CARS parked on pavements in Ingrow are obstructing sheltered housing residents who use wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

Residents of Staveley Court, in Ingrow, have complained that vehicles blocking pavements in Queen's Road and Staveley Road have been forcing them off the kerb and into the road to try and get past.

Teresa Callon, who has spina bifida and hydrocephalus and has used a wheelchair all her life, says she has even been hooted at by passing motorists while going into the road to negotiate parked cars.

"I don't want to risk my life just to go into town," she added. "I've almost been hit by cars when I've had to go into the road, which is when they beep at me to get out of the way."

Miss Callon, 46, who has an electric wheelchair, has lived at Staveley Court for three years, and said that the blocked pavements have been a particular problem for at least the last year.

"I go into town every day if I can," she said. "All I want is to be able to do this safely. I'm trying to stay as independent as I can, and this is making it difficult for me to go shopping, or even to go out and see family."

Her concerns have been echoed by 70-year-old Carol Claydon, who has lived at Staveley Court for 15 months.

Mrs Claydon has a heart condition and arthritis, and uses a mobility scooter as she can only walk short distances.

"I've needed to have my scooter repaired because it's been damaged from the times I've had to come off the kerb to go round a car on the pavement," she said.

"The scooter isn't insured to be driven on the road.

"I go into town about three times a week, and this is a problem almost every time, either on the way into town or coming back.

"It's usually worse when I come back at tea time.

"It's not just wheelchairs and mobility scooters affected. You see young mums with babies in prams and buggies having to go into the road, and it frightens you to death when you see them doing it."

Both Miss Callon and Mrs Claydon said they had reported the problem to Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police, but had been passed "back and forth" between the two organisations.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police responded: "Police have received a report of inconsiderate parking in the area and are making further enquiries around the vehicles responsible.

"Motorists are reminded to park their vehicle responsibly and safely without causing obstruction to other road users."

Keighley town councillor for Bracken Bank & Ingrow, Barry Thorne, said: "The police have issued warning notices on cars down there, which is an action I supported.

"There's always going to be this difficulty, because these roads were built before people even thought of having cars.

"But people do need to think twice and consider where Staveley Court is. I'd like to think this is just some people being a bit thoughtless rather than deliberately difficult.

"They only need to leave about four foot of space when parking."