BARRHEAD motorists are being urged to give visually-impaired people a break by putting an end to pavement parking.

The Guide Dogs Scotland charity has said a number of selfish drivers are putting lives at risk by forcing guide dogs and their owners onto busy roads.

It has highlighted several of the town's streets as blackspots for pavement parking.

The charity is backing an all-party campaign by the Scottish Government to make the practice illegal.

Residents are being asked to photograph selfish drivers who park on pavements and post them on its website.

A spokesman said: “We want to see legislation that enables local authorities to take action against inconsiderate parking which forces pedestrians onto the road and into the path of vehicles.

“With an ageing, less mobile population, more cars on the road and less money for maintenance, we need to prevent inconsiderate parking blocking pavements, raised crossings and dropped kerbs.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said Holyrood has agreed to the general principles of new legislation but added there were concerns last year that it was not within the power of the Scottish Parliament to legislate on pavement parking.

“This power has now been devolved in the Scotland Act 2016,” said the spokesman.

“As we’re in a new parliamentary session, it would have to be introduced and agreed to again.”