A kind-hearted pensioner is offering to foot the repair bill after a Weymouth mum's car was vandalised in a disability hate crime.

The Echo reported how Samantha Dunlop had returned to her car after a trip to the beach with nine-year-old son Liam – who has a life-threatening heart condition and a disability blue badge – to find a large scratch on the driver's door.

A nasty note was left on the car said: “You’re not disabled, I am. You should not pretend to be disabled just so you can park your car. I have you on camera.”

Police are treating it as a hate crime.

After reading the Echo article, Dorchester resident Jacqueline Fox, 73, decided to take action and reach out to Miss Dunlop and her son.

Mrs Fox said: "I read the article three times to make sure I was reading it right. What they did was bullying – it's cowardly – and worse that they attacked a child.

"If I could speak to the people who did this I would say 'grow up', get a life and behave like a human being."

Miss Dunlop had parked on double yellow lines in Westham Road.

Vehicles displaying blue badges are able to park on double yellow lines for up to three hours, if safe to do so.

"The badge was clearly displayed. They obviously saw Liam get out of the car and thought he doesn't look disabled," Miss Dunlop said. "I was so upset by the incident. I was crying on the phone to my dad saying 'what do I need to do?'. I shouldn't have to explain myself."

Liam was born with pulmonary atresia and has been in and out of hospital for most of his life. Miss Dunlop said she was concerned how attacks like this would affect her son.

She added Liam had been 'panicking' about where they parked the car and displaying his badge since the incident.

Miss Dunlop said she was told she could leave the damage on the car or pay for the repair herself. She decided to get it fixed as she said the scratch "acted as a constant reminder of what had happened."

But Mrs Fox, who is also disabled and uses a mobility scooter, stepped in and kindly offered to pay the cost of repairing the damage.

"I've never done anything like this before. I was just so very angry and wanted to help," Mrs Fox said.

Miss Dunlop added: "The whole thing has highlighted that there are some nasty people out there but it's also highlighted that there are some nice people out there willing to help and understand."