An operation to stop people from misusing disabled parking badges was carried out in Hendon and Golders Green.

Officers from Barnet’s corporate anti-fraud team seized seven blue badges and are now investigating 20 potential causes of fraud.

The area's Safer Neighbourhood team and Capita employees also helped out with the investigation.

Between them, 127 vehicles were identified as being parked and displaying blue badges.

During the five-hour operation, seven blue badges were seized, and five were found to have been misused by members of the badge holders' families.

A further two badges were seized after checks revealed they had been reported stolen.

In some cases misuse was identified where the badge holder was phoned and found to be at home in another borough while their blue badge was being used in Barnet.

In total, 12 people were fined.

Barnet Borough Council leader Councillor Richard Cornelius said: “By using a blue badge fraudulently motorists are denying someone in genuine need of a parking space.

“It is a criminal offence to misuse blue badges and I hope this clampdown sends out a clear signal to those tempted to borrow someone else’s badge to think twice.”