Just how tough is the great outdoors for wheelchair users?

Figures supplied to the Audit Commission reveal that only 75 per cent of Worthing's local authority buildings - including offices, leisure centres, swimming pools and concert halls - offered full access to disabled people last year.

And only 50 per cent in Brighton and Hove made the grade.

But disabled access is a wider issue than that. Picking up an electric wheelchair from Brighton and Hove Shopmobility in Churchill Square, Brighton, I set off to discover how tough a day out is in a wheelchair.

Wheeling up Queen's Road to Brighton Station, I encountered my first problem negotiating my way around pedestrians, who were often blissfully unaware of my presence.

One woman unintentionally blocked my path between a bus shelter and the shops. A pedestrian would have been able to walk around her but, stuck in the space-consuming wheelchair, I had to ask her to move aside so I could pass.

Other obstacles slowing down my progress included shop signs on the pavement and parked cars blocking my view of oncoming traffic.

Once I reached the station, I was surprised by how helpful staff were. After buying a return ticket to Worthing, a ramp was set up into the disabled carriage, while the guard rang Worthing Station to ensure someone was waiting with a ramp on my arrival.

Steps lead up to Worthing Station's main entrance and there is another entrance for wheelchair users. The gate here is kept locked but disabled people can get a key to set off an alarm and alert staff to their presence. Without a key, I had to shout for attention.

My only criticism of the rail experience was the narrowness of the ramps.

On one occasion, my lack of experience meant I almost toppled over the side. Matthew Smith, accessibility manager at train operator Southern, said the ramps were designed for wheelchairs no more than 70cm wide.

He said: "That covers the vast majority of mobility scooters and wheelchairs. Anything over that size we wouldn't accept.

"All of our new Electrostar trains carry ramps, so the conductor can deploy a ramp at any station.

"People can let us know in advance of their travel plans if they wish for reassurance, particularly if they are travelling to smaller stations, but there is no obligation to do so."

On arrival at Worthing, I decided to hit the town centre. My progress was hindered by a lack of drop kerbs and I was constantly looking out for the best place to cross to avoid a bumpy landing or being left stranded in the road due to a lack of drop kerbs on the other side.

Some footpaths presented their own hazards. Oxford Road had lots of bumps and a couple of them almost sent me flying.

Once I reached the town centre, I headed for Worthing Town Hall and Worthing Museum and Art Gallery and was pleased to find both buildings were fitted with good ramp access.

By now it was lunch time so I queued up outside Subway. The shop was small but fairly easy to access.

Although it was awkward to look through the glass counters, the staff were friendly and gave me a menu while I waited my turn.

Other eateries were not so wheelchair-friendly. Caffe Nero had heavy doors, making it virtually impossible to get inside. Fortunately, a customer spotted me and came to my rescue.

Luna Italian Restaurant in Montague Place had steps to its entrance and I could not fathom how any wheelchair- bound diner could go in. Some shops in Worthing seemed designed with the wheelchair in mind.

Vision Express had easy access with plenty of room to manoeuvre.

Sales assistant Michelle Christmas said: "We get a lot of disabled people here. We have a testing room on the ground floor at the back especially for the disabled and most of them are very satisfied with our service."

Having exhausted Worthing, I headed back to Brighton. Waterstone's was my first point of call and had excellent access for wheelchairs.

The same was true for Churchill Square, which seemed to be designed with the wheelchair-user in mind.

Wheeling myself round Virgin Megastore for the latest CDs could not have proved more of a contrast to the historic Lanes, where narrow streets, alfresco dining and tiny shops conspired to take the smile off my face.

Many shops with steps did not even stock a ramp. When I stopped my wheelchair at the entrance of the West Cornwall Pasty Co in Duke Street, a man behind the counter apologised that I would not be able to come in but offered to bring a pasty out to me.

Large stores can also be wheelchair-unfriendly. Kathy Goddon, chairman of Brighton and Hove Federation of Disabled People, often received complaints about the difficulty of reaching items in clothes shops.

She said: "With clothes, if you can't look at them physically yourself, then it's discrimination because no assistant will bring you everything and show you the whole selection."

Ms Goddon also gets complaints about pound discount stores such as the 99p Store in North Street, where there is little room to manoeuvre around the piles of stock.

Hussein Lalani, business development director for the 99p Store chain, said: "Due to the nature of our store and the fact we have great offers, when these items come in we have to pile them up somewhere. This can clutter up the aisles. However, we do offer a personal shopper service to all our disabled customers."

After returning my wheelchair to Shopmobility, I spoke to its co-ordinator David Johnson. He said he had not received any complaints about Brighton and Hove's public buildings but agreed the Lanes were difficult for wheelchair-users.

He said: "If there is scaffolding up, it's a nightmare in the Lanes. There is not much more we can do with the Lanes because the pavements are so narrow and it's so historic. Brighton shopkeepers are very conscious it's an old town so they will not be able to do everything the Government wants in providing disabled access."

Shopmobility is located in Churchill Car Park 1, Level P3, Regency Road, Brighton, and is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. Call 01273
323239.