DISABLED Kelly Brooks says she was left with no choice but to eat outside at a Trowbridge restaurant after staff told her they didn't have room for her wheelchair.

The 20-year-old, who suffers from cerebral palsy, went to Frankie & Benny’s at St Stephen’s Place in Trowbridge with a friend on September 11 at around 6.30pm, but was told by staff that there was no room for her wheelchair.

Miss Brooks, of Canal Road, said she could transfer herself from her wheelchair to a seat if staff could find a suitable table, but the table that was offered to them was small and there was no room for her to manoeuvre herself into the seats.

With no other option left, Miss Brooks and her friend decided to eat outside, but she is angry that such a new restaurant would have such poor disabled access.

“When we went in to the restaurant they said that they were sorry but there was no room for a wheelchair,” said Miss Brooks. “My friend then told them that I can get out of the wheelchair and manoeuvre myself into the seats.

“They showed us to a small table that was really tight to get into and it just wasn’t suitable. There just wasn’t enough space for me to turn my wheelchair around to transfer myself over to the seats.

“Someone I know who is also in a wheelchair had exactly the same problem, but we have been there before at lunchtime when they have been able to accommodate us, but this time we went later on.

“It shouldn’t matter what time we go as I have as much of a right as anyone else to eat inside the restaurant and it is very frustrating. It is a relatively new restaurant, so you would think it would have better disabled facilities.”

Miss Brooks added that incidents like the one she faced at Frankie & Benny’s, which officially opened at the £17m complex in April last year, have become much rarer, with most restaurants providing suitable disabled access.

Her dad James said: “When she arrived she was told that because of the layout of the restaurant that the wheelchair could not be allowed in.

“This happened earlier in the year, but in the summer it’s not quite as bad. As the evenings are getting darker and colder, we feel this is not acceptable.

“We are all under the impression that its equal rights for everyone as long as you are not in a wheelchair and need to eat inside at Frankie & Benny’s.”

Other restaurants in the £17m St Stephen's Place complex told the Wiltshire Times this week that they all had a significant number of tables available for disabled diners.

A spokesman for Frankie & Benny's said: "Frankie & Benny's restaurants have a number of tables that are designed to accommodate wheelchair users. Unfortunately, at this time these tables were in use as the restaurant was busy.

"Our team made every effort to ensure that the guest was seated comfortably offering alternative tables both inside and outside. The guest went on to enjoy her meal with the normal high standard of Frankie & Benny's service. There was no complaint at the time."