STAFF at a café in Shenley Road have denied claims they refused to serve a blind man because he had his guide dog with him.

Parliamentary lobby journalist, Sean Dilley, 29, entered Borehamwood Cafe for breakfast on Saturday morning with his dog Chipp.

Mr Dilley, a former Shenley resident who was meeting family in the area, says he was turned away because employees refused to budge on a strict no dogs policy.

However, waitress Rita Bergaeru said confusion between staff members, because the owner of the business is away, may have caused the incident.

She said: “At first when he came in with a dog, I didn't know he was blind and I said you can't come with a dog inside, but when I noticed he was blind I said I have to ask.”

Ms Bergaeru said she was called away to take an order from a table and when she returned Mr Dilley had gone.

She added: “I think he asked other staff, but the boys said they didn't say anything to him.”

Nevertheless, Mr Dilley left the premises with the distinct impression he was not welcome in the cafe with his guide dog.

The political commentator, who recently made a short film for the BBC about similar experiences in London, said the saddest aspect of the incident on Saturday had been the other customers' reactions.

Appealing to a busy cafe full of people, Mr Dilley was met with one shirking response - “It's not my argument”.

This lacklustre answer outraged one Borehamwood resident who heard of Mr Dilley's incident via social networking site Twitter.

Mark Thompson-Rees, of Arundel Drive, said: “I just couldn't believe how heartless and uncaring our society has become and of course I was deeply embarrassed about not only the staff at the cafe but also the people of our town.”

Speaking to The Borehamwood & Elstree Times, Mr Dilley said he believes The Borehamwood Cafe acted unlawfully as The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requires all business owners to make 'reasonable adjustments' to make their premises accessible to disabled people.

However, he conceded the law does have a grey area, because it does not specifically say guide dogs must be admitted – something he would like to see changed.

Speaking on the law and the incident at Borehamwood Cafe, Mr Dilley said: “Since the law on this matter seems so weak and the political will doesn't seem to be present to change it, I certainly think it would be good for readers to vote with their wallets.

“Nothing really shocks me any more. Every single time it happens it is deeply upsetting, but the trick is trying not to let it get to you that much.

“It's a battle I'm frankly so tired of fighting, but it would be nice to think there would be enough will in Parliament and the public for something meaningful to happen about it.”

Asked for a direct answer as to whether guide dogs were allowed in Borehamwood Cafe, Ms Bergaeru said: “Yes of course, definitely it is not a problem.”