The parking offenders regularly abuse spaces designed for Blue Badge holders, according to May McAvoy, Manager of the Special Olympics Ten Pin Bowling Club.

She told the MAIL the members meet on Tuesday evenings at 7pm and are frequently denied parking because of able-bodied drivers taking up valuable spaces.

"Some of our members come by bus and others come in cars, but usually when we arrive, we find cars parked in the spaces which do not have Blue Badges displayed.

"It really is a disgrace and people should be more considerate for those in wheelchairs when they park," she said.

Mrs McAvoy said the issue had been brought to the attention of leisure centre management.

And she added: "These spaces are reserved for those who are less able, in some cases very much less able. What sort of individuals steal their parking spaces? I would invite them to come to our club and explain. Perhaps it would be hoping for too much to ask that they become volunteers and help us out?"

Manager of Cookstown Leisure Centre, Liam Glavin, said they were aware of the problem and that a discussion engagement with the Disability Forum and the public was in the pipeline.

"If we find cars parked in the disabled bays, we call the numbers over the PA system. We don't employ car parking attendants, but if our staff notice them while walking around the building, they will take action.

"The council has also increased the number of disabled parking bays at the leisure centre over the last number of years. We've made them wider and we've put signage up," he told the MAIL.

And he said that people who abuse the parking bays ought to be ashamed of themselves.

"We are looking into the problem and we are trying to deal with it," he added.