DISABLED shoppers in Preston have blasted a leading retailer for treating them 'like second class citizens'.

Wheelchair-bound customers say they have been left out in the cold when they try to take a break at Woolworths' cafe, in Fishergate.

They claim that store managers are more interested in cramming extra tables into the cafe area than providing access for disabled people, who cannot reach the counter because the pathway running alongside is too narrow for wheelchairs.

Disabled groups have approached the high street store, but, as yet, there has been no response.

Cath Eastham, of Preston Community Transport said: "When so much effort is put into ensuring that disabled people can get to town it seems disappointing that we are deprived of certain services.

"Restaurants throughout the centre pose quite a problem, but the Woolworths case is particularly annoying because it is a high street retailer and their cafe is ideally located for us.

"The shop itself is no problem, although some aisles are a bit narrow, but we would like to be able to use the cafe. If we ask for service, we end up feeling very conspicuous and a nuisance, especially when they are busy."

Cath added: "They have promised to look into it but haven't told us what is happening.

"All we want is to be able to shop and eat in the same place, like everybody else. Other shops, such as Marks and Spencers, go out of their way to help us and it seems that Woolworths is letting the town down."

Woolworths spokesman Mike McGann told the Citizen complaints of this nature are treated very seriously.

"The Preston store is just one of only 50 stores in the country to boast a cafe so the problem is not widespread.

"The manager is under a certain amount of pressure to maintain a high table count.

"All our staff are trained to deal with disabled customers and many of our stores have recently undergone refurbishment to improve disabled access."

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