I was very sad but not surprised to read the story about the disabled person who was told off by another member of the public for not walking fast enough.

I have had a number of incidents in a similar vein since I became disabled. It is getting worse; so much so that I have a spray in my pocket for self defence!

I was brought up to help people and have patience but today this has gone by the wayside.

I only go for petrol in my car when there is nobody about as people get hostile as soon as they see my stick. Yes, I am slower but I operate as fast as I can.

I have had ‘You disabled people should not be driving, you should be dead’ shouted at me at one garage and looks and tuts from people. I now apologise to people to try and diffuse it before I start.

At a branch of McDonald’s recently I could not reach the bin so put my empty bag by the curb as near as I could. Somebody came across shouting at me and when I said that I was disabled - which was obvious - they said ‘So what?’

In shops, and I go in very few now as I am scared, I have been pushed out of the way, had comments from people behind me and people looking at me as though I had no right to be there.

As soon as people see a stick they see someone they can bully. I really have had enough. Why are people like this? What can we do? We don’t choose to be like this!

Steve Pendlebury