AN engineer forced to take early retirement after more than 20 operations on his feet has been refused a disabled parking space by the council.

Tony Isaacs, 60, of Khartoum Road, Weymouth, used to work at Wellworthy, near Ferrybridge, until a string of operations on his feet forced him to leave.

But Weymouth and Portland council still say he doesn't qualify for a disabled parking space outside his home - even though he has arthritis in both feet, is registered disabled, and has a mobility car and a disabled disc.

Mr Isaacs said: "I have a job parking outside my home. There are so many cars which use the road and I can't really park lower down because I live on a hill and I have difficulty walking down there."

So he applied to the council for a space outside his home, but a letter to him from Richard Penny of the Environmental Services Department regretted that they couldn't help him.

Mr Isaacs said: "I was told that they had come round during the day to view the parking area. They said there was plenty of space then. Well there would be wouldn't there because everyone had gone to work.

"They also said they had surveyed the area at night and that there had been space there for parking at the time they had visited. They said they were therefore unable to help me.

"I don't like this at all. Nine times out of ten it is chock-a-block here and you can't move.

"It is putting me through a lot of pain and I would like the council to think again and give me a parking space. It would make a lot of difference to me.

"I have had more than 20 operations on my feet which forced me to retire early, so the less I have to walk, the better."

Coun Andy Blackwood, who represents the area where Mr Isaacs lives, said he would look into the issue.

He added: "All disabled people deserve help and I will be checking with the council to ensure that Mr Isaacs' case has been fully considered."