IT might not sound much, but one inch made all the difference for Brian Espiner in visiting his new granddaughter.

She is in London, while he lives in Hampshire and travels to the capital by train. The problem is that his mobility scooter is 2.75cm – just over one inch – too long to be allowed on board.

Mr Espiner, who moved to Winchester in 1975 to teach maths at Peter Symonds College, was therefore told that he could not travel when he phoned to ask.

He said: “We were only talking about just over an inch, but they wouldn’t back down.”

The 64-year-old needs a scooter because he has only one leg and suffers with spinal osteo-arthritis.

His vehicle has four wheels and is slightly larger than the maximum size of 112cm long by 56cm wide.

He said that South West Trains (SWT) does allow three-wheeled scooters of up to 120cm by 70cm.

Mr Espiner said that even if the difference was down to a smaller turning circle, he still questioned the firm’s figures.

He said: “They are discriminating against four-wheeled scooter users in favour of three-wheeled scooter users.

“They have been clumsy and not thought the problem through.”

Determined to make the trip to London, he bought a slightly smaller scooter instead, but it cost him £400.

The father-of-four is now able to see his four-month-old granddaughter, Rose, who is his first grandchild.

Mr Espiner’s case has been taken up by Winchester MP Steve Brine.

He said: “The fact he bought a new, smaller scooter at great personal cost does solve his problem but others will not just be able to shell out for a new machine and it does seem the train company are being pretty inflexible on this one.

“I am taking this up with SWT.”

In a statement, the company said that its scooter policy was “consistent with Government guidelines”. It has also produced a booklet to provide advice to wheelchair and scooter users, which states that bigger three-wheeled scooters are allowed on board because they have a smaller turning circle.

It said: “Our aim is to work to provide an inclusive railway, which is available to as many people as possible through positive moves to increase accessibility.”