A great-grandad with dementia missed his own birthday celebration when a wheelchair-accessible taxi did not arrive at his care home in Chadderton.

Jack Harrison, who has four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, was meant to be treated to a meal with relatives at Toby Carvery on Tuesday, July 12. 

Daughter Sue Robinson said she booked a wheelchair-accessible taxi from Borough Taxis in Royton two weeks in advance to avoid issues on the day.

But when it did not arrive without warning, she called the company to see where it was.

Sue said: "I was told the wheelchair taxi broke down the day before. If they had told me, I could have tried another wheelchair taxi. 

"I asked what happens now and he said I don't know."

According to Sue, it was too late to book another wheelchair-accessible taxi and no-one else was able to take Mr Harrison, who is in his late 70s.

She turned around to take her dad back into the care home, then went to meet relatives at Toby Carvery where the meal went ahead without him.

Sue said: "I was so sorry for him. He was crestfallen."

"They should have told me when the car broke down." 

Sue was told a message would be sent to the manager of Borough Taxis, but after a series of calls and messages to chase it up she said she is still without a response.

She said: "We're absolutely fuming they didn't phone us up. 

"They're ignoring me and that's infuriating me even more."

She suggested there is a plan to rearrange the birthday celebration as soon as possible. 

Sue said: "We've promised him we'll arrange something else, but it's about the time. It's coordinating 10 or 12 different people. 

"One of my sisters lives in Pontefract. But we're trying to sort something else out."

Borough Taxis has been approached for a comment.