A 49-YEAR-old disabled man has been banned from Poundland in Hereford- but he said it is a case of mistaken identity.

Michael Dando was surprised to be told by a manager at the shop in Maylord Orchard Shopping Centre that he was banned because during his last visit he was abusive to staff.

But Mr Dando, who uses a mobility scooter to get around, appealed to the shop's head office against the ban, only to be told the manager's decision is final.

He said: "The manager said that last time I was there I was rude and offensive and abusive to his staff, and that I was banned and wasn't to go in there again or I will get some sort of order.

"I told him it wasn't me but he said it was."

Mr Dando, who has spina bifida, which is a condition where the spine does not develop properly, said he pops into the shop two to three times a week for milk and other essentials. He lives in High Town.

He said: "I am quite disappointed. The thing that really irritates me is this alleged offence that I have allegedly done was my previous visit, so if it was my previous visit why didn't he ban me on that occasion?

"I think it is mistaken identity. When I said that to head office, as far as they were concerned it doesn't matter."

Mr Dando added: "The amount of people who have said to me, 'That is not like you. They haven't done it right.'"

A spokesman for Poundland said: "As you might imagine we're not in the habit of banning any customers from visiting our stores. Sadly from time to time our colleagues face abusive behaviour and it's only right that we take action to protect them.

"We can assure you it's never action we take lightly or without just cause."