A CHARITY which helps disabled motorists has backed a York supermarket which has announced it is to fine customers for parking where they shouldn't.

As revealed by The Press, the Asda store at Monks Cross is introducing a £60 penalty for drivers who abuse disabled or parent-and-child parking bays depriving customers who need them. The store, which owns the car park outside its out-of-town branch, will phase in the scheme and begin handing out fines where necessary on March 10, with profits going to the Tommy's and Motability charities.

Another charity, Mobilise, has also now welcomed the move. Its director of policy and campaigns Helen Smith said: "We fully support Asda's decision to fine people abusing parking bays.

"Since 2002, our organisation has been putting pressure on supermarkets to tackle this problem, so I am glad they have decided to deal with it head-on.

"Not being able to park in a disabled bay means some disabled people will not be able to do their shopping. We sincerely hope other supermarkets follow Asda's lead."

Asda's Monks Cross crackdown will include patrols of the car park and anybody parked in a disabled or parent-and-child space without a disabled badge or a car booster seat being fined. Signs will be put up to let customers know about the scheme.

A spokesman said the penalty system followed attempts to tackle the problem constructively in the past.