Mr Hammond, who uses a guide dog called Cresta to get around the town, said drivers parking on footpaths cause a major problem.

He said one of the hotspots for vehicles parking on paths is at the top of Station Road.

Mr Hammond accepts there are problems for drivers needing to make deliveries to businesses along that stretch as there is no-where for them to park without blocking traffic.

But he said the vans parking on the pathway are forcing pedestrians like himself to have to step into the road to get past.

And he claims a recent incident left him sprawled in the roadway.

He claims on September 30 he was walking into town from his Queen's Street home when his way was blocked by a lorry.

Cresta sat down, which is what guide dogs are taught to do if there is an obstacle, and while they waited he claimed the lorry then moved forwards and caught Mr Hammond knocking him down into the road. Fortunately he was not injured but Mr Hammond claimed the lorry just drove off without checking to see if he was all right.

He said the only way around was to walk into the road into on-coming traffic, which is dangerous as he can't see and it is putting his dog at risk, as Cresta is leading the way.

But he said it is not just dangerous for him but also for other pedestrians including mothers with prams, people in wheelchairs, and the elderly.

Mr Hammond said he has made regular complaints to the police and council about the problem, but no-one takes him seriously.
And if he tries to tackle the drivers responsible he often finds himself on the receiving end of a mouthful of abuse.

"It is a real problem in March, drivers need to think about how they park so that people can get past safely. Blocking the pavement is dangerous and could lead to someone being seriously injured," added Mr Hammond.

After the recent incident he went to the police station to complain and found himself being given an £80 fixed penalty fine because he became so irate at what he describes as the officers' lack of interest in his complaint.

A police spokesman said the incident had been looked into and witnesses claimed Mr Hammond had thrown himself at the lorry.

She said the fixed notice had been issued for disorderly behaviour in a police station.