76782-94AN elderly woman was forced to make a painful walk to Swindon Council's offices as she was not sure whether she could park right outside.

Pearl Laverton, 75, had to walk 300 yards back to her daughter's car because the council did not have signs displayed for disabled parking spaces.

And, her daughter, Maggie Hathaway, 52, is furious her weak mother had to walk this distance.

Mrs Hathaway, a full time security guard and carer for her mother, lives with her at Shrivenham Road, Swindon.

On Thursday they had to visit Wat Tyler House Swindon Council's customer services office to deal with Mrs Laverton's benefits.

Mrs Hathaway said she needed to park near the main entrance so her mother didn't have to walk far.

"I knew there were disabled spaces there, but a sign said we would be fined and clamped if we parked here. I was told the spaces were reserved for council staff."

But she said she saw no signs to tell the public these spaces are available for people with disabilities.

Mrs Hathaway dropped her mother off, parked in a disabled bay at the Civic Offices car park and joined her mother in Wat Tyler House.

But, the trouble started when they had to walk back to the car.

Mrs Hathaway said: "To the rest of us it's not a long distance but for the disabled it is a long way."

Mrs Laverton, a widow, has had six heart attacks in the last four years and has swollen legs and ankles.

She said: "I had to stop and start all the way. My legs are so swollen. It worries me sick when I have to walk."

She added: "In my mind, it seems silly we couldn't park closer.

"The walk was very painful. I had to hold on to Maggie and use my stick because I'm very unsteady on my feet and it was wet and slippery."

The walk would usually take an able bodied person around five minutes.

But, it took the pensioner 20 minutes, after stopping and starting, gasping for breath.

Mrs Hathaway said: "I was very angry.

"My mum felt ill and could've well done without having to make that walk.

"It was a struggle back to the car."

Mrs Hathaway used to work for Swindon Council in the Access Department.

She believes it is wrong of the authority to not advertise these disabled parking spaces.

She said: "I want disabled people to be aware these bays are here and you are allowed to use them."

Sarah Deacon, a spokesman for Swindon Council, said: "We apologise if there has been any misunderstanding.

"There are disabled car parking spaces directly outside the entrance of Wat Tyler House, accessible from Beckhampton Street, which are available at all times to the public visiting customer services."

Lyndsay Scanlan