A man with rheumatoid arthritis has criticised selfish drivers who park illegally in disabled spaces at an Oxford hospital, making it difficult for him to get to his appointments.

Tony Hiles, 61, visits the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, in Headington, every three weeks to have treatment for his condition, but is often forced to leave his car in the public car park furthest from the buildings.

He claims security guards at the hospital show no interest when he complains that staff and able-bodied motorists are taking up disabled spaces.

Former postman Mr Hiles' concerns come a week after the Oxford Mail revealed that managers at the NOC are lobbying Oxfordshire County Council for better public transport, because nearby streets have become restricted resident-only zones.

Managers at the NOC said they controlled the 60 disabled bays strictly, and penalised people who parked in them illegally.

Mr Hiles, of Beech Road, Eynsham, has suffered from arthritis for 20 years.

It has left him with stiff joints which, together with foot ulcers, makes it painful for him to walk, and forced him to take early retirement.

He and his wife, Jean, 58, have often seen staff and other motorists, including taxi drivers, use the disabled bays at the hospital.

He said: "It's a job for me to walk about and I struggle to find a space at the NOC. I have to give myself a good hour to get to the hospital, because it takes time to find a place to park. I have to go to the car park at the back of the site.

"We know people without disabled badges are parking in the designated bays, but there's not much you can do about it. We've told the security guards at the hospital, but they don't seem to do anything about it and just make excuses."

Last week, NOC managers said they wanted better transport links to the hospital to make it easier for visitors and 1,000 staff to get to the site, leaving parking spaces for patients with mobility problems.

Chief executive Ed Macalister-Smith said: "We're determined about making the place accessible.

"I deplore anybody who parks in a disabled bay without a disabled parking permit, and we have a vigorous policy of clamping people who park illegally.

"I know this happens, because I get appeals from people who have been clamped."