BLIND people with guide dogs are being turned away by taxi drivers – even though the law says they cannot refuse.

A new survey by Guide Dogs revealed that 75 per cent of the blind people it asked had been told they could not use a taxi or be allowed access to a shop or restaurant.

Swindon guide dog owner Alan Fletcher, 71, is one.

He became completely blind when he was 57, because of retinal dystrophy in both eyes and relies on his labrador Nutmeg to help him get out and about.

Earlier this year he booked a cab but when it arrived to pick him up the driver he couldn’t get in. He said: “After he refused to take me I told him that he has to by law, then he wanted to charge more but I said ‘no you can’t do that’.”

Alan told the Adver: “I know other people who have had similar stories happen to me where they have been refused access by a taxi driver earlier this year.”

“Naturally I know people who have been stopped for different reasons. One of my friends ordered a taxi for her anniversary and when they saw her dog they just drove away.”

Changed to the 2010 Equality Act mean taxi drivers can only refuse assistance dog owners if they hold a medical exemption certificate . Of the people who answered the survey 33 per cent said they were refused access because of allergy but there was no certificate.

Alan said: “It’s not too bad in Swindon. We have had a few issues though. I talked to the county council, to the local authority, and they usually inform the taxi company that they can’t do that.

“Anyone who get a new licence should be reminded of the laws so they're aware of what it is.”

Wayne Casey, administration officer for the Taxi Association which represents driver nationally, said: “There are training schemes in place all over the country.

“But there were even cases that were reported just last week. There is only so much the local authority can do.

“There’s exemptions in the laws like with an allergy. But the law is clear about it – all drivers must take guide dogs and their owners. Nobody should be breaking the law and refusing guide dog owners unless they fall under the exemptions.”

Guide Dogs and the Royal National Institute of Blind People have produced an Equality Act toolkit to tackle the problem and inform blind people of their rights.

In 2016 a campaign was launched to give taxi and minicab drivers disability equality training. Guide dog owners also went to Parliament last week to tell MPs of their experiences.

Wayne said: “We have no sympathy for drivers who break the law and don’t take guide dog owners and their dogs.”