Blue Badge holders will no longer have to endure fruitless searches to find specified parking bays.

A new interactive service will allow people to search by postcode or city for designated Blue Badge parking bays across many parts of the country.

The Department for Work and Pensions announced that the location of bays for the disabled, in 64 towns and cities, including Brighton and Hove, will be put online so drivers can find them, and see any restrictions that apply to them, before they set off on their journey.

Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire, said disabled people needed to be supported to live life independently in the community.

She said: "For many disabled people who do drive or are a passenger, knowing where they can park will enable them to take part in day-to-day activities that non-disabled people take for granted."

The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking benefits for disabled people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or as passengers.

The concessions, which apply to on-street parking and include free use of metered bays and pay-and-display bays, are administered by local authorities.

Transport Minister Gillian Merron said: "We want everyone who is entitled to a Blue Badge to benefit from a userfriendly and properly enforced system. This innovative service will help badge holders, whether drivers or passengers, get more out of the scheme."

The announcement comes weeks after the Government promised to clamp down on unscrupulous motorists who abuse the Blue Badge system.

Thousands of the badges go "missing" each year - with many sold for up to £1,000 on the black market.

New rules which come into force at the end of the summer will give police and parking attendants the power to order a motorist to show a badge.

It will be an offence if a person refuses, without reasonable excuse, to produce a badge for inspection - punishable on conviction by a fine of up to £1,000.

The new powers are designed to make it easier to identify those abusing the scheme and to take action against them.

Motorists already face a fine of up to £1,000 if caught using a Blue Badge not issued to them.

To view the parking map, visit www.direct.gov.uk/bluebadgemap