A blind pensioner was refused entry to a restaurant because he would not leave his guide dog outside.

Ron Whitt, 70, visited Cafe Mensa, off Billericay High Street, for a cooked breakfast with his wife Tracy and trusty dog Fable.

But owner Huseyin Hassan told Mr Whitt that Fable, a black German Shepherd, was not allowed inside.

Mr Whitt claimed this was the first time he had been turned away from a restaurant in 26 years of owning guide dogs.

He said: "It shocked me because I've been to the cafe lots of times before and have never been refused entrance. In fact, they have always been very friendly."

Mr Hassan said he asked for the dog to be left outside for health and safety reasons.

He added: "It's nothing personal - I'm a dog-lover and I've got a blind uncle - but I can't allow dogs into my restaurant because it's a small shop. Last time the dog was scratching."

Chris Dyson, of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said Mr Hassan's action was breaking the law.