A SCHOOL for children with learning disabilities was slapped with a parking fine while its pupils were out choir singing in Blackburn town centre.

Teachers from Broadfield Specialist School in Oswaldtwistle were upset when they returned to their minibus in Church Street to see a £50 fine sticker on the front window on Monday.

A group of its pupils had been singing in Blackburn Market and Lloyds Bank to help raise charitable funds in the early afternoon.

Beverley Bury, of the schools extended services team, said she had returned to the minibus to collect something when she saw the ticket.

Mrs Bury, who was driving the minibus, said the school’s disability pass had ran out on Friday, but believed it had been renewed and was eligible for use.

She said: “I was terribly upset when I came back to the bus to find the sticker.

“We’d been out trying to do a nice thing and raise some money and we’ve come back to this.

“We were aware the pass ran out on Friday, but it should have been renewed as usual and we should have been able to use it.

“Lots of people around us became very angry when they saw the fine, I don’t think it’s gone down well.”

The Fielding Lane school caters for students with generic learning difficulties aged 11 to 19.

One man who alerted the Lancashire Telegraph to the parking fine, said: “The children were singing beautifully and were doing a great job.

“I can’t believe they have been given a fine. It’s not fair at all on the school.”

On Blackburn with Darwen Council’s website page regarding parking fines, it says: “If you receive a penalty charge notice it will cost either £50 or £70 dependent upon the offence.

“If you pay the penalty within 14 days a discount of 50 per cent applies."

Martin Eden, director of environment and operations, said: “The penalty charge notice was issued for an out of date disabled badge and was therefore issued in the correct manner, however having investigated this it became apparent that the badge was in the process of being renewed, and as the badge is assigned to an establishment and not an individual we have taken the decision to cancel the charge.”

In April this year the school was left to pick up the pieces after its minibus was vandalised.

Thieves stole parts and a planned trip to Southport the following day was cancelled.

However Evans Halshaw Ford in Blackburn came forward and offered the school a replacement minibus free of charge while they got back on their feet.

The school was also targeted by thieves in February 2017 after an £18,000 Ford Transit was stolen from the school grounds.