A disabled man has slammed McDonald's after staff refused to serve him at a drive-thru because he was on a mobility scooter.
Mark Waite, who suffers from lupus and osteoporosis, decided to visit McDonald's in Gosport, Hampshire to try the new triple cheeseburger after struggling to sleep.
The 50-year-old uses a road-worthy class 3 mobility scooter which is registered to the DVLA and assumed he would be served from the fast food giant's drive-thru windows.
But Mark, who previously worked in a factory, was left baffled when staff at the branch told him they could not sell to anyone on a mobility scooter - despite it being McDonald's policy to serve them.
Mark, who has been using a mobility scooter for the past five years, said: "I was having a hard time sleeping so I went down to the docks and thought I would get some food on the way back.
"There was one car in front of me, and I let them do their thing, and there wasn't a car behind me.
"It registered on their sensor that I was in a vehicle - but then I was told they don't serve mobility scooters.
"I explained to the gentleman at the window that my scooter is a DVLA registered vehicle but I was told, 'sorry sir, it's a mobility scooter, we don't serve them'.
"I cannot drive because of the pain medication I am on - I need liquid morphine.
"No disabled person should have to feel like their disability is their fault. It has put me off visiting that branch."
Mark explained the decision not to serve him left him feeling 'discriminated'.
He said: "It made me feel ashamed that I'm disabled and the way I was treated, I feel like I was being discriminated.
"There are many different styles of mobility scooter. This one's a class 3, DVLA approved, it can be driven on the road, it's insured and taxed.
"Once I explained to them that it's a class 3, they should have accepted that and taken the order and let me be on my way."
According to its own website, McDonald's states 'drive-through lanes are custom built for motor cars, vans, trucks and road-worthy mobility scooters'.
McDonald's has now apologised for the blunder and said staff at the restaurant did not recognise the scooter was valid for service.
A spokesperson said: "We'd like to apologise to the customer in question.
"We have reminded the team of the procedure to ensure this does not happen again. Staff have now apologised to this customer directly."
