A MAN is 'disgusted' by city taxi drivers who refuse to carry his 89-year-old uncle because he is wheelchair-bound.

Kevin Turner, of Cleeve Drive, Worcester, said the problems started after leukaemia forced his uncle into a wheelchair about a year ago.

Mr Turner, aged 54, said the majority of the refusals have happened at the taxi rank in The Cross, Worcester.

He said his 82-year-old auntie struggles to push her husband to other ranks, which are further away from the city centre.

A Worcester City Council spokesman said drivers are legally required to take disabled passengers and that those breaking the law could lose their licence.

Worcester Taxi Drivers Association added that some taxis can only accommodate certain sized wheelchairs.

Mr Turner said: "I think it's disgusting. It's their bit of independence to get a taxi and go to town to do a bit of shopping and get medical treatments.

"A lot of the trips are for medical appointments. Frailty from leukaemia put him in a wheelchair. He's been battling it for 18 months now.

"Because he's got severe diabetes as well as leukaemia they have to have constant care for his feet as they can get gangrene.

"The Scholl Centre cut his nails. They also have doctor's appointments at Spring Gardens surgery."

Mr Turner added that his uncle and auntie, who live in Blackpole, Worcester, have not complained about the issue because they do not want to make a fuss.

He thinks taxi drivers refuse to take his uncle because of financial reasons.

"They go to the taxi rank and the first car will refuse them and then next cab along and the next will say the first one has to take you," he said.

"While he [the taxi driver] is getting the ramp out he could be getting back quicker to the rank.

"If he's got to spend an extra 15 or 20 minutes putting the ramp down and then back up, he's probably thinking 'I could do two calls in this time'.

"But handicapped people need all the help they can get."

Lesley Borthwick, of Worcester Taxi Drivers Association, said: “I am sorry to hear yet again that customers with wheelchairs are not able to get taxis off the rank.”

She added that some taxis vary in the size of wheelchairs that they can accommodate and that there are certain firms in Worcester that specialise in wheelchair transport.

Ms Borthwick said anyone who is refused a taxi must take the vehicle’s registration number or number plate and report it to the licensing authority.

A Worcester City Council spokesman said: “We take these matters very seriously.

“All taxi drivers in Worcester are legally required to take disabled passengers.

“Failure to do so is discrimination under the Equalities Act 2010.

“Every complaint is investigated and if it is upheld drivers can be prosecuted and may lose their licence.

“Worcester City’s taxi drivers are trained in how to load wheelchairs into their vehicles, so there is no excuse for refusing a disabled customer.”

The spokesman urged anyone wheelchair users who are discriminated against to contact Worcestershire Regulatory Services on 01905 822799 or wrsenquiries@worcsregservices.gov.uk.