A WORCESTER woman claims she is faced with taking her disabled son to Birmingham to catch a train because of Thames Trains' refusal to book him a seat from the city.

Chris Phillips said she had opted to take her son Lawrence, who has ME, to Birmingham International to catch a train to London, due to Thames Trains' policy on seats.

Mrs Phillips said the company would not allow her to book a seat for 16-year-old Lawrence, although it had offered to help him on and off the train.

The pair are travelling to London to attend an invalidity benefit hearing.

"Thames said they don't do seat reservations when I asked about bookings," she said.

"But Lawrence won't be able to stand during the journey because of the ME that he's had for three-and-a-half years, and I need to know that he will get a seat."

She feared a train from Worcester would be "crammed full of seasoned travellers".

"That means we'll have to use a rail operator that does do seat reservations - and so I'll be going to Birmingham International to catch a Virgin train," added Mrs Phillips, of Warndon.

"This is discrimination because it fails to give disabled people equality of opportunity."

She has written to the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, about the issue as well as complaining to Worcester MP Mike Foster.

A spokesman for Thames Trains confirmed the operator had a "turn up and go" policy and offered no reservations.

"We're very much a commuter rail company and, as far as I'm aware, all other south-eastern commuter companies have the same policy," he said.

"Reservations are more suited to longer journeys, like those offered by Virgin Cross Country and First Great Western.

"But we produce a book about assistance for the disabled and customers can book help to and from the train.

"Most Thames Trains have a member of staff who will be able to help a disabled customer."