GREAT HARWOOD'S top policeman has promised his officers will be patrolling to cut the amount of illegal parking in the area.

Inspector John O'Reilly addressed a meeting of the Great Harwood Area Council after residents raised concerns about wheelchair users being forced on to the road because pavements are blocked with cars.

Inspector O'Reilly also revealed how a number of drivers sporting disabled badges also park their cars illegally, sometimes on drop kerbs' where wheelchair users can make their way onto the pavement.

This can be a hazard to both the disabled and pedestrians.

He has now pledged to instruct his officers to take action against people illegally parking in the town, in a bid to help ease the problem.

Inspector O'Reilly said: "What does concern me is the number of people with disabled badges who park on dropped kerbs.

"There are people who need disabled badges and the system itself is being abused.

"I will ask and instruct our officers at Great Harwood to take action against people parking on footpaths causing people in their wheel chairs to have to go out into the road.

"If we see them and can deal with it I can assure you they will."