A disabled film buff has accused the Streatham Odeon of discrimination and flouting disability laws after twice being asked to leave by staff who branded his wheelchair a “fire hazard”.

A furious James Ballardie, 27, said staff were blindly quoting health and safety mantras rather than allowing him reasonable access to the cinema as required by law.

On May 10, he decided to boldly go to see Star Trek, but was forced to crawl on his hands and knees across the upstairs lobby floor to get to his screen after staff told him he was not allowed to take his wheelchair upstairs.

Despite an apology from the cinema chain for the way he was treated, during a second visit earlier this month he was again told he would not be allowed pstairs with his wheelchair.

Mr Ballardie, who lives by Crown Point in West Norwood, said: “In my 27 years as a wheelchair user, this is by far and away the most blatant and persistent example of discrimination I have endured.”

High Court rulings and the Disability Act state companies and buildings must adapt their rules on disabled access when it is considered a reasonable request.

Mr Ballardie, who works in television, argued he was able to climb stairs by pulling himself up by his arms on the hand rail, so could easily enter buildings like the Streatham Odeon lacking disabled access without causing obstruction to others.

His friends could take the wheelchair upstairs, where it could be stored while he watched a film in a normal seat.

Mr Ballardie said: “This was a reasonable request and by no means creating a fire hazard.

"All I wanted was to watch a film at my local cinema. Was that too much to ask?”

An Odeon spokeswoman said, in hindsight, more flexibility could have been applied to Mr Ballardie’s situation and it wanted to apologise for any inconvenience and distress caused.

She said the cinema wanted to reassure all guests with disabilities that, wherever possible, staff would always help to make its screens open to all.

She said: “In some of our older buildings, such as in Streatham, the layout and age of the building provides some particular challenges.

"The wellbeing of guests is paramount and staff are trained to adhere to disability policy and follow health and safety procedures.”

She said during Mr Ballardie’s first visit to the cinema,staff were following procedures to protect guests’safety, while, on the second, there was a misunderstanding about storing the wheelchair.

She said both situations could have been resolved more effectively and with greater flexibility.

David Strong, senior manager of charity Disability Advice Service Lambeth, said the incident illustrated his charity’s concern many disabled people were frustrated with their level of access to buildings in Lambeth.

He said: “Organisations must ensure they are doing everything that is reasonable to ensure access for the disabled.”