A DISABLED visitor has told of his distress after being asked to leave a York pub.

Terry Keogh, 51, a motorised buggy user, left the Old White Swan, in Goodramgate, after an upset which he said has made his multiple sclerosis worse.

"It has made me feel worse than ever," he said.

"I came here for some respite and a break, but this has taken the edge off it, affecting my nerves, and making me feel worse."

He said he and an able-bodied friend were having drinks in the pub when the manager came and asked him to leave.

"He said it was company policy not to allow buggies in the pub. It really spoiled our day.

"My legs don't work any more, but the rest of me does, and my money is as good as anyone else's."

He said: "I think they just wanted the pub full of young people spending their money, and I probably don't fit in with that, but it really is hurtful."

The pub chain, Mitchells and Butlers, admitted the incident.

A spokeswoman said: "It does appear that unfortunately a member of staff did ask these people to leave.

"It may have been because of the size of the pub, but this was the wrong thing for him to do.

"We have reiterated to the pub that this is not company policy, and we fully support the Disability Discrimination Act."

But Mr Keogh said another incident this week in a pub owned by the same company "brought everything to a head".

He and two friends in wheelchairs asked for staff at the Black Bull in Hull Road to serve them outside because it was sunny and they wanted to enjoy their drinks in the open air.

He said it would have been impossible for them to get their buggies into the pub and get back outside with the drinks without carers.

But staff refused to help them.

"The whole point of our having these electric buggies is to give us independence to do what we want," said Pat Heffernan, 59, of Rawcliffe, York.

She said: "York says it is disability friendly, but I would say never."

But the pub said it did not realise there was a group of disabled people waiting to be served outside.

Black Bull manager David Embleton said: "There has been a misunderstanding here.

"There was only one person who came in, the others did not pass any message on. I am sorry it happened, but we would never refuse anybody."

The spokeswoman for Mitchells and Butlers said: "We are very sorry about this misunderstanding, and to avoid it happening again people with special requirements should phone ahead so we can give them whatever help they need."

Updated: 10:27 Friday, June 06, 2003