A MUM who became temporarily disabled while pregnant has hit out at the public's attitude towards people in wheelchairs.

Julie Baldacchino said she suffered "looks of disgust" from Worcester shoppers and found it tricky to move around certain stores when she was confined to a wheelchair.

The mum-of-three, who gave birth to her third daughter in Ronkswood Hospital yesterday morning, suffered from symphysis pubis dysfunction during her pregnancy.

The condition loosens four bones in the pelvis, which causes constant pain and temporary disability.

"Like many pregnant women with this condition, I found mobility was a major problem," said Mrs Baldacchino .

"Because I couldn't walk long distances, I hired an electric wheelchair so I could continue with my day-to-day life and the Christmas shopping.

"But becoming disabled for a short time has really opened my eyes to both access within the city centre and the attitude of the general public.

"You get a real sense that you and the wheelchair are in their way".

On one occasion, a woman pushed in front of her while she was being served in a shop claiming she thought she was "just asking a question".

Mrs Baldacchino, a nurse, said although many shops in Worcester had automatic doors and wide lifts, several did not have ramps.

She also complained narrow aisles and displays made moving around very difficult.

"The store managers should spend a day in a wheelchair going around the store and then maybe a few light bulbs might flash," said Mrs Baldacchino from Lower Broadheath.

Audrey Kelland, chairwoman for Worcester Access Group, uses crutches and suffers from cerebral palsy.

She said the organisation went around the city centre pointing out disability access problems to shops, but its pleas fell on deaf ears.

"Shop owners said they couldn't do anything about displayed goods because they had nowhere else to put them," she said.

"Having grown up with this condition I take no notice when people look at me, but not everyone's like that. A lot of people are very helpful."