A VETERAN amputee received a tirade of abuse from a taxi driver who refused to leave a disabled parking space and told him to 'get another leg'.

Gary Whittle, who has a prosthetic leg, drove into Woodley Library car park on November at around 12.15pm.

A silver Toyota Prius was blocking the disabled space he was attempting to park in and the driver refused to move twice in order to pick up a fare.

What came next was a shocking wave of abuse where he began swearing at Mr Whittle before telling him to get a new leg.

Mr Whittle, from Lower Earley, served in the RAF for nine years and lost his leg during a motorcycle accident.

The 54-year-old said: "I served my country for nine years so people can sleep safely in their beds.

"I lost my leg. I never expected to receive that kind of abuse.

"Even if I hadn't served in the RAF, nobody should abuse disabled people.

"I was just going to pick up some sandwiches for my friend who is more disabled than I am.

"He started swearing at me and then as he drove away he told me to get a new leg. I was wearing shorts so he could see I have a prosthetic leg."

Police are now on the hunt for the abusive driver and a woman who was collected at the library.

The offender is a man in his early 40s, around 5ft 9ins tall with a large build. He had short dark hair and was clean shaved.

He was wearing a blue shirt, dark suit jacket and dark suit trousers. He was also wearing smart black shoes.

The taxi driver refused to move his vehicle stating that he was there to pick up a fare.

The victim asked the driver a second time to move his vehicle, at which point the taxi driver began using abusive disablist language towards the victim.

The taxi driver refused to move his vehicle and soon after a woman arrived and got into the taxi, and the taxi driver then left the car park.

Investigating officer, police constable Samuel Welsh, based at Loddon Valley police station, said: "We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or been in the area at the time and may have seen a silver Toyota Prius taxi to call police on the non-emergency number 101.

"We are particularly keen to speak to the woman who had booked the taxi, as she may have information which could help our investigation."