A taxi driver is fuming after being ticketed five times in three weeks for picking up a disabled passenger from the bingo.

Chris Bray, who drives a taxi in Carlisle, has received the tickets in the Englishgate Plaza car park, clocking up fines worth £300.

The car park, on land between Cecil Street and Botchergate, is operated by Smart Parking.

Mr Bray says the passenger he collects needs help getting from the bingo building to his cab.

He told the News & Star : "It's a £60 fine so that's a total of £300. I've done this journey for the last five years in the same car park and I've never had any trouble until the last few weeks.

"I don't take up a car parking space. I merely pull over to the side by the bingo and leave the car to go and collect my passenger."

Mr Bray has complained to Smart Parking, who have cameras in the car park, but they will not cancel his tickets.

However, he says he is refusing to pay them.

He said: "It seems to me that they are discriminating against disabled people.

"The tickets are issued on a Saturday and Sunday night between 8.50pm and 9.10pm.

"I need to help the passenger with bags."

Mr Bray said: "It's a serious issue. I intend to see Carlisle MP John Stevenson about this. I need to get the ball rolling."

A spokesman for Smart Parking, which is based in Birmingham, said: "At the car park we use a state-of-the-art ANPR parking management system that records the time all motorists enter and exit.

"For those people who do not pay the correct tariff they should expect to receive a charge.

"In the case of Mr Bray he has never paid the correct tariff, so rightly received charges.

"When entering a private car park we would remind motorists to always check the terms and conditions first before deciding to park.

"There are numerous signs at the car park that clearly highlight terms and conditions of use and the vast majority of motorists have no problems using the system."