A pensioner says he will fight his parking fine "all the way" amid a furious row with council chiefs.
Dick Cox was hit with the penalty charge after stopping on Ayr High Street to pick up medication for his disabled wife.
Their car – which carries a blue badge – was booked whilst Mr Cox was inside Boots obtaining pain relief.
He says he was "stunned" to return and find his wife, Mary, in distress with a ticket from a warden.
Roads bosses say Mr Cox was guilty of "misuse of a blue badge" by parking in the disabled bay when it was, in fact, his wife who had the ailment.
He has since been unsuccesful in appealing the fine.
But the 78-year-old grandad, a former proprietor of Barcox Electrical, insists he will refuse to cough up.
He told Ayrshire Live : "I was able to provide the warden with evidence that I had been collecting my wife's pain medication.
"The rules clearly state that other people can't use your badge to go and collect something for you – unless they are travelling with you.
"Well, that's what my wife was doing here. She was sat in the passenger seat and has serious mobility problems after a hip replacement and spinal issues.
"Yet I've been told that had I moved her out of the car and on to the pavement, everything would have been fine. It is a total nonsense and I will fight this all the way."
He added: "If I have to get my lawyer involved and go down that route then I will. It's now a point of principle and I will not pay the fine."
Council bosses, who are implementing rules set nationally, insist they were right to dish out the fine to Mr Cox.
Kevin Braidwood, head of roads at the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, said: "Blue Badge holders are entitled to park in many places which are normally off limits, however, there are rules which the holders must adhere to.
"One of the rules is that holders should not allow non-disabled people to take advantage of their parking benefits while they sit in the car."
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