WELL known Pewsey woman Jill Thompson claims she was the victim of car park rage by someone who refused to believe she is a disabled driver.

Mrs Thompson, who works in the family's car repair business, Whatleys in Pewsey, has had a disabled badge in her car since she had major cancer surgery seven years ago when she was 32.

She was registered as a disabled driver because the surgery left her weak on one side and with difficulty in carrying things like shopping.

Several times, she said, she has been the victim of parking rage when other drivers have tackled her for using disabled parking bays, although her car carries a badge.

She said part of the problem she encounters with other drivers is because to the casual observer she does not have an obvious disability.

It was the latest encounter in her own village and featuring someone she knows a customer at her family's business that has left her angry and despairing.

Mrs Thompson, who lives in the High Street used her car to go shopping at the Co-op supermarket.

She parked in one of the disabled bays close to the store doorway and noticed a woman she has declined to name her publicly standing at the back of her car.

Mrs Thompson said: "I didn't take too much notice and carried on sorting myself out.

"When I noticed some minutes later that she was still there it dawned on me she was probably waiting to have something to say about me parking there and she was lying in wait for me to get out of the car.

"I stepped out the car and she verbally abused me, saying I was not disabled and she thought it was a disgrace I was taking up this space."

Mrs Thompson said she tried to show the woman that she was a blue badge holder but she refused to listen or look at the badge.

Mrs Thompson has reported the incident to the police and also written to the woman she said abused her with a photocopy of her blue disabled badge.

"I was so upset and hurt to think this happened in my own village where I live and have for most of my life, running our family business," she said.