A Partially-sighted Linslade woman and her husband claim they were

banned from eating in a pub restaurant because she was accompanied by her guide dog.

Andrea and Lance Cannon say they were stunned to be told by Alberto Marcucci, landlord of The Cock Inn, in Wing, that they couldn't have guide dog Ember in the restaurant. Instead the couple would have to sit at the bar to eat.

But, appalled by the reaction of pub staff, they protested by taking their custom a couple of miles away to The Stag in Mentmore where they received "a fantastic" reception.

But this week Mr Marcucci said the couple had misunderstood him.

"I would never have refused a guide dog in the restaurant," he said. "There's no way I wouldn't have allowed them in. I know by law they must be admitted. I wouldn't have told them they couldn't eat in the restaurant."

Refusal to admit a guide dog is illegal and in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act and could lead to a hefty fine for the landlords. By law the blind and partially-sighted must be allowed full access to restaurants even when accompanied by their guide dogs.

The alleged snub happened last weekend when the Cannons, of Bewdley Drive, planned a pub lunch in the smart village inn.

Andrea, 50, and Lance walked in with the six-year-old and fully trained Labrador/retriever and asked a waitress for a table in the restaurant.

"She saw the guide dog and said that dogs were not allowed in the restaurant," said Andrea.

"I explained that Ember was a guide dog and she went away and came back with her boss. He was apologetic but said that dogs couldn't come into the restaurant.

"I told him it was against the law to refuse us a seat and he said that on this one occasion we could eat at the bar.

"I was so horrified by his attitude that we left. We tried The Stag and they gave us a wonderful welcome and were fantastic

"We have eaten at The Cock before without incident and the pubs and cafés in Leighton are fantastic. Ember is very well known around the town and she even has her own water bowl in some places.

"She is a fully trained guide dog who lies under the table when we are eating. She's not allowed to move. You'd never know she was there."

Bill Alker, for the Royal National Institute for the Blind, said The Cock were breaking the law by refusing admission to the dog.

He added: "We had a similar case in Luton a few years ago and the judge took such a dim view of the matter that he ordered the proprietor to let the man in with his dog or face an injunction which could have sent him to prison.

"You can't use ignorance of the law or health and safety grounds. "Someone invests about £20,000 in training a guide dog and a blind or partially sighted person would be really hurt by something like this. It's an attack on their independence.

"For someone to turn around and not let them in to eat is completely unacceptable."