ONLY owners of disabled wildlife were permitted to park in the Swan multi-storey car park last weekend, thanks to a grammatical howler by Wycombe District Council.

Temporary signs in the High Wycombe car park referring to refurbishment of the lower levels clearly went unchecked by council officials before being plastered around the busy car park.

The printed sign instructed "disabled badger holders" to park on the first floor "whilsth" workmen redecorated the lower car parks lower levels.

But while the impromptu signage, pictured below, went unnoticed by council officers, they certainly caught the attention of some less than impressed motorists.

Matt Quelch, 29, of Sands, High Wycombe, who took a picture of the sign on his mobile phone, told the Free Press: Does this mean that if I'm holding a disabled badger I am allowed to park on the first floor.

"Seriously though, is there really any excuse for this? The spell checker would have missed the badger' but I'm quite sure there's no such word as whilsth."

He added: "Poor spelling and grammar is bad enough on internal documents, but to advertise their poor standards with a public notice like this is a reflection both on the general decline of the country's education but more specifically on the appalling level of service the council currently provides."

Lower levels of the pay-and-display multi-storey have been closed all week while workmen give the building a lick of paint.

But the signs must have proved confusing for disabled drivers, who are usually permitted to park for free in the town centre car park.

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council thanked the Free Press for bringing the notice to its attention, adding: "It will be checked and amended as appropriate."