AN angry partially-sighted woman claims she is being discriminated against by Bolton private hire firms.

Lilian Quinnin complains that firms refuse her custom because she is accompanied by her guide dog Helga.

Although Lilian, of Musgrave Gardens, Bolton, had experienced difficulty in getting taxis for some time, it was only after she missed an event that she decided to speak out.

She said: "I had planned to attend a touch tour of the scenery at the Bolton Octagon theatre.

"I booked a private hire taxi with Red Line on Chorley Old Road well in advance.

"But when the driver arrived he refused to let me in the car with my guide dog. He wouldn't give me a reason why."

Lilian then called STB Private Hire, based on Gleave Street, Bolton, explaining she had a guide dog - but the car she booked never showed up.

She added: "In the end I had to get a lift from a friend but by the time I reached the Octagon, I had missed the tour.

"I am furious that visually impaired people like me who rely on a guide dog are being discriminated against like this."

Mr Yunas Umarji of Red Line denied that his firm discriminated against guide dog users.

He said that although it was down to individual drivers, there were drivers who readily accept visually impaired customers.

He said: "We even have a contract with the guide dog centre in Bolton."

Lee Allcroft, a manager at STB Private Hire, said his firm does not have a set policy about carrying guide dogs.

As drivers were self employed, it was down to them which passengers they take.

He added: "We have picked this lady up before, but drivers complain that it took them three quarters of an hour to pick off the dog hairs from the back seat."

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