BLIND people can now insist that their guide dogs are allowed to travel in taxis.

Hearing dogs for the deaf are also covered by the new rules which council bosses brought in this week as a condition of drivers' licences for both public and private hire vehicles.

Recently a Radcliffe woman who booked a private hire vehicle from a Bolton firm was not allowed to take her dog in the cab.

Complaints from customers have prompted the move, along with a desire to obey the new Disability Discrimination Act.

Coun Trevor Holt, licensing chairman, said: "It's absolutely necessary, we would be discriminating against disabled people contrary to the Act. It cannot be right, in any case.

"I can see why drivers might not want to take them but guide dogs are always seen as a special case. I think anybody reasonable would agree with that."

Coun Holt confirmed that the council had received "one or two" complaints from visually impaired people who had been turned away by drivers because of their dogs.

Drivers still have discretion whether to take any other type of dog, and may make a charge.

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