THE parking nightmare for staff, visitors and local residents around Blackburn Royal Infirmary has become worse and worse over the years.

A system of residents' permits got off to a bad start when there were complaints that it was not being properly policed.

And recently an anaesthetist was clamped when after driving around for 25 minutes looking for somewhere to park he finally left his car in an unmarked bay.

While all involved became more exacerbated with a ridiculous situation hospital bosses were wringing their hands saying there were just not enough parking spaces around.

They even suggested staff should park and ride all the way from Queen's Park Hospital where they will be moving in a year or two anyway.

Now finally some Hospital NHS Trust officials have come to agreement with an organisation only a short walk away where scores of parking spaces are lying idle for most of the week - Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park ground.

Doctors and nurses will be allowed to use it for a reasonable rate - which will be halved if they are season ticket holders.

A simply great solution to a long-standing problem.

What a shame someone didn't come up with it several years ago!