A clampdown is planned on motorists abusing Selby Abbey Leisure Centre's disabled car park after a young girl was knocked down by a car.

Extra staff are to be drafted in at early evening peak times to hand out parking tickets to able-bodied drivers who illegally park in the disabled car park at the front of the main entrance.

Selby District Council's head of leisure services, David Wright, said another major problem was that the disabled car park was regularly used as a drop-off and pick-up point by able-bodied drivers.

He told the council's community services committee that the problem recently came to a head when a young girl was hit by a vehicle dropping off people at the main entrance.

Mr Wright said it was "a near miss". The girl was knocked over but escaped with minor grazing.

He said: "The girl had been for a swimming lesson and had gone out with a parent. She saw a friend in the car park and ran across."

He said drivers often approached the main entrance at speed, creating a fairly major safety hazard.

"In addition, the disabled car park is regularly abused by able-bodied drivers who park there to avoid walking from the main car park," said Mr Wright.

Warning signs had been put up in the centre's reception area after the accident, but this was only a short-term measure.

Mr Wright said the only workable option was to restrict access, and a range of mechanisms was being investigated.

Centre manager Bob Lancaster said it was amazing that able-bodied drivers parked in spaces for the disabled to avoid walking from the main park - and then played football for an hour or more.

Coun John McCartney said: "Anyone illegally parking in the disabled car park or on the grass should be given a ticket, and we should provide the staff to police the area."

Members voted to step up policing of the car park, and to consult disabled groups about restricting access.