A SEVERELY-disabled woman had to be bundled into her daughter's car to make it to her carer's birthday party because a pre-booked taxi failed to show up - despite four reminders.

Pensioner Betty Wheeler, who suffers from motor neurone disease and needs 24-hour care, missed most of the 30th birthday bash she had looked forward to for weeks.

Her daughter, Cathy Wheeler-Smith, booked a cab the day before the party with Associated Taxis, in Wyld's Lane, explaining that her mum was severely disabled.

On the night of the party, Mrs Wheeler-Smith waited outside for half-an-hour, but the cab failed to turn up.

"I phoned up the company four times to keep passing on extra information such as the address and directions," said Mrs Wheeler-Smith.

"My mother lives out towards the country, so I thought it might be difficult to find.

"But when I phoned that night, they said they had no record of an advance booking and that there was no one available on duty."

She jumped in her car and drove to The Cross in Worcester to look for a taxi with wheelchair access, and found one belonging to Associated Taxis.

"I explained the situation, but the driver refused to take me because he said he was on another call," she said.

Mrs Wheeler, of High Park, Whittington, eventually had to clamber into the family car with her daughter and another carer.

Once they arrived, it took four men to lift the 70-year-old into a wheelchair.

"She was looking forward to the party very much," said Mrs Wheeler-Smith.

"I'd hate any other disabled person to fall into the same difficulties."

She said she tackled Associated Taxis the following day, but was offered no apology.

"If they'd told me at any time that they were struggling with the booking, I wouldn't have minded," she said. "It's just that they didn't bother turning up."

A spokesman for the taxi firm said he could not comment on the incident.