A disabled woman has criticised rules introduced under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Suchi Chatterjee, 38, says she is appalled by the introduction of legislation that has stopped her from catching the bus she regularly uses to reach Brighton station.

New rules by the Government stipulate only one wheelchair at a time can be carried at the front of a bus, by a grabpole in the gangway.

It means double-deck buses are limited to one wheelchair and are no longer able to carry double buggies.

The rules also mean the 36 single-deck, low-floor buses in the Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company fleet cannot be used by wheelchair users because they are not fitted with ramps.

Unfortunately, Suchi, of St James's Street, Brighton, normally uses a single-deck bus to get to the station.

Suchi commutes to London every week to attend conferences as part of her work as a race liaison officer with Brighton police.

With the new rules meaning she will have to travel further in her electric wheelchair, she fears it may run out of power and leave her stranded in London.

She said: "When the legislation was first introduced I was really proud and happy and thought it was something positive for disabled people.

"But I thought it was supposed to help us, not penalise us.

"I regularly use the number 50 to get to the station but unfortunately, it's a single-deck bus so wheelchairs are no longer allowed.

"I have to get to the station for work so now I'm going to have to take the 5A and make my way up there under my own steam. That is using up my electricity which is limited.

"I normally like to save it because I have to make my way across London on buses. I will just have to pray it doesn't run out in the middle of the capital."

Suchi has been in a wheelchair for more than three years after developing a tumour on her spine.

Twice a week she takes the bus to go swimming at William Moon Lodge in Hollingbury, Brighton.

She said: "It keeps my back supple. Now I'll have to get a disabled taxi to get there."

Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, has criticised the new requirements, describing them as "bureaucratic nonsense".

He promised users new low-floor, double-deck buses were on the way.