A Falklands War veteran has gone to battle against a council over delays to processing his blue badge parking permit.

Wayne Sharp, 61, of Lowestoft, works as a support worker and carer for disabled people and adults with learning disabilities primarily in the Great Yarmouth area.

He depends on his blue badge as he suffers from a neurological movement disorder meaning he cannot walk long distances and depends on being able to park on double yellow lines when he visits clients.

Mr Sharp says he completed his application for his parking permit to be extended in June in plenty of time for a September 8 deadline.

He was told it would take up to 12 weeks to be processed - but that timeline has now slipped, leaving him without a blue badge from September 9.

Mr Sharp, pictured in his car, depends on his blue badge for his work as a carerMr Sharp, pictured in his car, depends on his blue badge for his work as a carer (Image: MICK HOWES)

"When my blue badge expires on September 8, I will be in a right mess, work will be very difficult and inconvenient as I do park safely on double yellows to minimise distances I walk when I visit patients," Mr Sharp said.

"My main annoyance is that I have done everything by the book and applied before the deadline in June so to be told I won't receive my renewed one for three months is infuriating."

READ MORE: Elderly couple in Blue Badge battle with council

Aged just 19 and only six months into his military career, Mr Sharp was in a Royal Army Medical Corps unit that sailed with the task force to the Falklands Islands after the invasion in 1982.

Mr Sharp depends on his blue badge for his work as a carerMr Sharp depends on his blue badge for his work as a carer (Image: MICK HOWES)

Later he spent three years living and working with the military in Cyprus, before later returning to England to continue working in the medical industry.

He now hopes Suffolk County Council can quickly resolve his blue badge saga so he can continue offering care to the vulnerable.

READ MORE: The Norfolk retail park without public transport to and from its nearest town

However, this looks unlikely as the council has said there is a national backlog of applications, but it is trying hard to rectify the problem.

A spokesman said: “Councils have up to 12 weeks to process blue badge requests, and generally Suffolk County Council does it quicker than this.

"We are currently seeing a significant increase in the number of applications, which means it’s taking us around 13 weeks.

"We’re fixing the backlog by giving residents extra time to apply and putting extra staffing resources in place.

"We encourage anyone who has concerns to contact us for advice and to discuss alternative short-term arrangements.”

Mr Sharp, pictured in his car, depends on his blue badge for his work as a carer Mr Sharp, pictured in his car, depends on his blue badge for his work as a carer (Image: MICK HOWES)