A blind woman was left saddened after being knocked back by three Glasgow taxi drivers because of her guide dog.
The shocking incident happened to Allana Grant while she waited for a cab at the rank outside Glasgow Central station on Gordon Street last weekend.
The 33-year-old, from Airdrie, has been on a night out in the city centre with partner Ian when they attempted to get a taxi home around midnight - after being unable to book a cap using a taxi app.
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After waiting an hour at the rank, Allana, Ian and guide dog Felix were knocked back 'point-blank' by three different drivers before a fourth accepted them
She told the Daily Record: "The queue was enormous as you can imagine for a Saturday night. The taxi marshal came to get us and they took us to the front where they tried three cabs.
"He asked if the first three drivers were alright to take the dog and we just got point-blank refusal. It was just a straight-up no.
"It was sad but it has happened before, you kind of become a bit resigned to it because you know the authorities won't do anything about it. I don't see that I am asking for anything special - we're just trying to go about our business."
Allana said there should be "no reason" why the three - who are all believed to be Glasgow City Council licence holders that operate independently - shouldn't have accepted the fare.
She added: ""There's absolutely no reason why drivers shouldn't take these dogs. As far as I am concerned, it is discrimination founded on complete misperceptions.
"People don't bother to find things out, the dogs are highly trained. If they weren't, they wouldn't be going in a car. If my dog had any problems I wouldn't take him into one.
"The dogs are clean. You're taught in training to groom them and that is done regularly.
"There really is no argument about the dogs making a mess or misbehaving."
Meanwhile the cabbie who accepted the fare, Stef Shaw, called for the three drivers in front of him to be stripped of their badges.
He said: "The taxi drivers who refused this guide dog or those who have refused any guide dog should have their licences revoked immediately.
"They very obviously have no compassion or care for disabled people and are not the type we want to see in our trade."
On learning of the incident, Glasgow City Council called it "highly concerning".
A council spokesperson said: "This is a highly concerning incident. It is both a criminal offence and a breach of their licence for a taxi driver to refuse to take someone who is accompanied by a guide dog.
"If anyone has any information on this incident then we urge them to contact our taxi enforcement team and we will investigate."
