A Labour MP has accused a taxi driver of refusing to pick her up from Brighton station because she was in a wheelchair.

Anne Begg, MP for Aberdeen South, said she was stunned when the cabbie gave several excuses for not allowing her in.

The incident happened on Sunday when Miss Begg, 45, arrived in Brighton for the Labour Party's conference.

As she and two colleagues prepared to climb into a taxi outside the station, the female driver told the MP she would have to wait for a specially-adapted taxi.

Miss Begg said: "I immediately told her it was all right because I could get into the taxi myself and the wheelchair could be folded up. Then she said she couldn't take us because we had too many bags.

"We were left with our mouths hanging open. I was stunned. She didn't even offer to take one or two of us. I am certain she was discriminating against us because of my disability."

Instead, Miss Begg and her colleagues got into the cab next in line and were taken to the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.

She said: "We got ourselves and our bags in the cab without any fuss. It was exactly the same type of taxi except the driver was very helpful and earned himself a big tip for being so nice."

Miss Begg said she encountered discrimination on a regular basis but was still shocked by the behaviour of the first driver.

She added: "In London, I have seen taxis drive past disabled people waiting to be picked up but I have never experienced anything like this before.

"I don't know why people behave in this way. It shows a blatant disregard for somebody's feelings. This woman was not only rude, she also let her sex down.

"It hasn't affected my view of Brighton, however. Generally, people have been very nice and kind and the second taxi driver was a real gentleman."

David Collins, a hackney carriage officer for Brighton and Hove, said: "We are most concerned to hear about this lady being turned away by a taxi driver.

"All drivers are obliged to take people in wheelchairs under the terms of their licence. Anyone who fails to do so without reasonable cause could be prosecuted."

He urged anyone with a complaint to note the car registration number or licence plate details so the case could be investigated.

Juliet McCaffery, lead councillor for equality and social justice, said: "We are very concerned about this appalling incident and it is a dreadful way for anyone to be treated."

If a disabled person has a complaint against a company or service, they can contact the newly-formed Disability Conciliation Service helpline on 08457 622633.