A ROSYTH man feels like a "prisoner" in his own town and is dreaming of a day out with his wife.

Chic Elder is 27-stone, registered disabled and relies on a class three mobility scooter to get around.

As he cannot walk more than 20 yards without being in pain or becoming breathless, the scooter – which itself weighs around 23-stone – is a vital part of his day-to-day life.

However, as the scooter requires to be charged after around six to seven miles, it limits Chic's accessiblity to other local towns and attractions.

A day out with his wife to somewhere like Edinburgh, Dundee or Kirkcaldy is therefore out of the question, despite his best efforts to see if any local travel service could accommodate him.

"This means I am a prisoner to a seven-mile radius and can't go anywhere outwith that circle," he told the Press.

He has tried ScotRail and Stagecoach but hasn't had any joy in finding a way in which he would be able to take his scooter on the train with him.

Stagecoach cannot transport a class three mobility scooter under industry regulations, and his conversations with ScotRail have led nowhere, he says.

Chic had hoped his scooter could be transported on the train in a baggage carriage but he said ScotRail couldn't help him with his request when he contacted them last week.

"Everyone I have spoken to says there is nothing they can do," he told the Press.

"What spurred me on to talk to ScotRail again was seeing the news about the Highland Explorer trains which have carriages for 20 bikes.

"I thought there would be a way to have my scooter on a carriage but it doesn't seem like anyone is willing to help."

Chic has been in touch with scooter companies in Edinburgh which can rent out a vehicle for him but that would require him to walk from the train to the taxi rank and then to the company to collect the scooter, which he is physically unable to do.

He told the Press that his ideal scenario would be to leave his scooter in a locker at Rosyth train station and to arrive in Edinburgh where he could collect a rented class three mobility scooter on arrival.

"If any company could do that, I really would be grateful for that," he said.

"I've accepted that I'm ill and that I'm going to be in the house most of the time but it's my wife I feel sorry for.

"She's able-bodied and she also cares for me.

"I feel bad for her as we haven't been able to go to somewhere like Edinburgh for the day in years and years.

"That's what I really want us to be able to do but I can't find anyone that can help."

ScotRail was asked for comment on Friday but did not respond ahead of the Press print deadline yesterday (Wednesday).

Stagecoach East Scotland highlighted that they can take class two scooters on its services but were not allowed to take class three models.

A spokesperson said: "Many mobility scooters can be transported on our buses and coaches.

"However, as per Department for Transport guidance and bus industry body CPT's Code of Practice for use of mobility scooters, we are unfortunately unable to carry Class 3 scooters on board, as they are not designed to be carried by bus.

"We are happy to work with passengers with Class 2 scooters to assess their suitability to be carried safely onboard our vehicles, as stated in the CPT's Code of Practice."