A BILL forbidding minicabs from "humiliating and upsetting" people by refusing to accept their guide dogs is long overdue.

This is the opinion of Alan Powell, who needs a dog to help him get around. But Mr Powell, chairman of the Waltham Forest Talking Newspaper, can't always get to his destination because minicab drivers refuse to carry his dog, Nyle, in their cab.

"The minicab drivers don't give any excuse, they just say they don't take dogs," said Mr Powell.

Neil Gerrard, Walthamstow Labour MP, has taken up the cause of guide dog owners and yesterday (Wednesday) introduced a ten-minute bill to stop minicab drivers from discriminating against them.

"Guide dog owners rely on taxis and minicabs to be able to get around and live their lives. It is scandalous that they can be prevented from doing so because of prejudice or lack of consideration for their needs," said Mr Gerrard.

"The aim of my bill is simple: to reform the law to make sure guide dog owners know they can get a minicab or a taxi wherever they live or travel," he said.

Mr Powell said Mr Gerrard was doing his level best to help but it remained to be seen just how much notice local minicab companies would take of the bill.

The problems of guide dog owners were brought to a head when Mr Powell was unable to get the Talking Newspaper out to his 250 listeners last year because he couldn't get a driver to take him and Nyle to the newspaper's headquarters.

"I am very pleased that Neil Gerrard is doing all he can to help. This is long overdue and I hope that it will make things better," he said.

Mr Powell, who is a member of the Disability Action Waltham Forest management committee, added: "I left my guide dog at home on the day of the Disability Action's annual meeting, knowing I wouldn't be able to get a minicab home. A friend attending the meeting tried seven local companies but none would take him home."

Geraldine Peacock, chief executive of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said: "If successful these proposals will plug a gap in the Disability Discrimination Act which should never have existed in the first place."