A Huntington’s disease sufferer barred from a restaurant for allegedly putting other customers off has defiantly taken to dining next door – in full view of the offending eatery’s staff. Catherine Blow was banned from eating at Galo D’Ouro, Queenstown Road, and instead moved to Le Pot Lyonnais.

The 47-year-old was devastated when restaurant over Fransisco Conde said she could no longer eat at Portuguese eatery and was now only allowed takeaways.

He said her degenerative disease was causing him to lose trade, even though she has been a loyal customer since it opened two years ago.

Symptoms of the hereditary illness include loss of coordination - which can lead to spilling food - trouble swallowing, and difficulty controlling speech and movements.

Our report of the story led to a torrent of support for Miss Blow, and she has been inundated with calls from well-wishers who could not believe the way she has been treated.

Neighbour Mary Fane-Gladwin said: “She’s been advised to sue, but she says she doesn’t have the money. She would if she could afford it. She’s now been eating at the restaurant next door. They know about her disease, and have been serving her fine.”

Commenting on Miss Blow's hopes to take legal action the restaurants owner Fransisco Conde, said he would talk to his lawyers.

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission refused to discuss the case, but said: “It is unlawful to treat a disabled person less favourably because they are disabled.

'But it is possible to argue there are health and safety reasons, or that you provide an alternative service.'

A spokesman from the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN), a Putney-based charity which is Europe’s largest provider of care for people with Huntington’s, said he empathised with Miss Blow’s situation, and called for greater awareness of the disease.

“Because it is a relatively rare disease, public lack of knowledge means people with Huntington’s can be greatly misunderstood and their quality of life affected.

“Huntington's disease's most obvious symptoms are the abnormal body movements called chorea and a lack of coordination.

“In fact, these involuntary jerking movements use up huge amounts of energy and mean that some people with Huntington's actually need a far higher calorie count that the average person simply to maintain weight.

“At RHN we are doing all that we can to encourage public tolerance in order to allow all people living with Huntington’s the same opportunities for social interaction and independence that are essential to anyone’s general well-being."