In May this year the Daily Mail loudly claimed that thousands of Britons were “driving off” in new cars by pretending to be disabled.

Now, a month later, it has finally admitted what many disabled activists have been saying – it was completely wrong.

The Mail claimed that by “pretending” to be disabled, thousands of Britons had claimed taxpayer-funded cars under the Motability Scheme.

The scheme was set up to help disabled people get around by helping them exchange their mobility allowance to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair.

But today the Mail quietly added a retraction to the end of its article, admitting it had got the figures wrong

The headline of an earlier version of this article stated that thousands of people are driving off in new cars under the Motability scheme by pretending they are disabled.

In fact, although 2100 people had their leases terminated for abuse of the scheme, it is not known how many of those abuses were for feigning disability. It was also incorrect to say that the enhanced benefit of £57.45 is received in addition to the car. Those receiving the benefit receive either the car or the money, not both.

Just shows how much attention to facts Daily Mail journalists pay.

The story predictably attracted lots of hateful comments online.

Will the Mail apologise for those too?

The car scam that will drive you crackers! Again, us hard working mugs have to pick up the tab for malingerers…https://t.co/8dGLRd32km — Lady Durrant (@LadyDurrant) May 12, 2016

Thousands are in cars paid for by US – by pretending they're disabled https://t.co/42idHdnyym >>> SHOP 'EM. Cut! HARDER, FASTER, DEEPER. — Mike 间 合 (@inhoclocus) May 12, 2016

The Daily Mail should be ashamed of itself for promoting hatred of disabled people