Going on holiday is bloody great, don't you think? A week away from work. I feel a Cliff Richard song coming...

All together now...We're all going on a Summer Holiday.No more worries for a week or two, we're going where the sun shines brightly, we're going where the sea is blue, we see it in the movies now let's see if it's true - unless you are going with National Holidays and disabled!

The last sentence reflects the appalling behavior mother of two, Matilda had to put up with because her daughters are disabled (Sharon Simon, 46 and blind & Iris who is in a wheelchair). Malitda gave the company full warning that her family was going on their 5 day coach trip Cliftonville in Norfolk to avoid any disruptions, unfortunaly though this was a complete waste of time.

The trouble started before the Simon family even set foot on the coach, Maltida is knocking on a bit at the grand old age of 81 so couldn't really lug Iris's wheelchair on the vehicle and blind Sharon probably thought her sister was already on the coach! The bloody-minded driver however didn't help and even refused when asked.

Eventually the family boarded and the coach drove off - leaving their luggage! The driver turned back and reunited the family with their bags , however 90 minutes into the journey the driver kicked the family off at a service station in Knutsford, Cheshire, because the disabled sisters were being 'disruptive'.

Director of National Holidays, Martin Lock defended his employee,

"The reason for Mrs Simons party leaving the holiday coach was in no
way due to their disabilities of which we were made aware. Mrs Simons party's behavior on the coach was very disruptive both to fellow passengers and also the coach driver and they were seen to represent an unsafe situation.

"The clients were transported from the service station to their home and due to
the nature of the relationship with their travel agent appropriate reimbursement
was arranged."

We phoned Mr. Lock and tried to find out more details about the incident, although he was quite reluctant to give any comment he said he would e-mail us an extended statement which puts forward the companies case. We then asked how the Simon family were being disruptive, Mr Lock told us that they were being loud and abusive, when asked if this was because the driver refused to assist them in the first place Mr Lock said he couldn't really comment and it was all hearsay.

The worst thing is that the Simon family aren't covered under the DDA.

Pure and Simple maybe? But Catherine Casserly who is the RNIBs legal officer and barrister, said,

"People may think it unbelievable that the sisters have no protection under the Disability Discrimination Act but as it stands, a disabled person who is traveling on a public service vehicle has no claim under the DDA.

"As a matter of priority, the draft Disability Bill that recently began its journey
through Parliament must ensure that this loophole is closed so that disabled
travelers are no longer subjected to such terrible treatment."

So Cliff 'bloody' Richard next time you sing about holidays being all happy and gay have a thought for the poor buggers who travel on National Holidays!

Altogether now.. We were going on a National Holiday, But bit off more we could chew, cos the driver a f-ing wanker, so now we're trying to sue!

For able-bodied people!