The family of a Deptford great-grandmother are fuming after they were turned away from her local pub on her 94th birthday.

Emma Brown’s grandmother Mary Clarke lives in Czar Street, just round the corner from the Dog and Bell pub in Prince Street.

The great-grandmother-of-eight has lived in Deptford since she was born there in 1920 and has advanced dementia, is registered partially blind and struggles to walk.

But to celebrate her 94th on September 13, Emma, along with her mum Diane Donohoe, 61, and son Jackson Brown, three, thought it would be great if four generations of Mrs Clarke’s family could enjoy a birthday drink out at around 3pm.

Mrs Brown, who lives in Dursley Road, Blackheath, told News Shopper: "It was difficult to convince her it was a good idea but eventually we put her lipstick on and got her to the Dog and Bell.

"It’s a two minute walk but it took around 15 minutes.

News Shopper:

Mary Clarke (left) and her family are upset about being turned away from her local pub on her 94th birthday.

"Everybody went quiet when we walked in but I just thought it was the regulars who didn’t recognise us.

"I sat Nan down while Jackson was playing with the bar mats."

Mrs Donohoe went to the bar to buy drinks, but was refused service as the Dog and Bell operates a no children policy of which the family weren’t aware.

Mrs Brown said: "My mum asked ‘can’t we just have one drink?’ but was told no.

"It’s because we had Jackson with us, as if that’s a crime.

"My mum said ‘sorry Nan, we have got to go’.

"It was my Nan’s birthday, possibly her last birthday.

"She gets episodes of severe memory loss, confusion and anxiety.

"She had no idea what was happening and this gave her one of those episodes because it was unpredictable and stressful."

Dog and Bell manager Dave Butcher said: "There is a notice on the entrance that says it is not suitable for children.

"It’s a small pub and it gets quite busy so we really don’t feel it’s particularly safe for children to be here.

"If we allow one exception people will say why can't you allow our children in here?

"I sympathise with the family but all this could have been avoided if they had rung us up to check our policy in the first place."