A disabled photographer was left deeply upset and angry after being told he was a health and safety hazard while taking press pictures at a Football League match.

Wheelchair-bound Mike Kunz is a freelance photographer and follows npower League One side Yeovil Town across the country taking pictures at their home and away matches.

At Saturday’s match away to Hartlepool United the former United Nations soldier was told he couldn’t take pictures from the side of the pitch because he posed a health and safety threat to the players.

Mike, of Somerton, tried to come to a compromise with officials but despite the fact he has taken pictures from pitch side at Hartlepool’s Victoria Ground in five previous seasons he was told he would have to retreat to the stand.

He said: “I was willing to sit on the floor and for my chair to be totally off the pitch but they were not willing to compromise. They said I wouldn’t be able to get out of the way and that I posed a health and safety risk in and out of my chair.

“Despite this other photographers were allowed to sit along the pitch on their metal stools.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this and I have been photographing the Glovers all around the country for about 10 years.

“I am still upset and angry about it. It was blatant discrimination.”

It was only the second time this season Mike had been able to attend an away game after being fitted with a new prosthetic leg earlier this year. He hopes to be soon fitted for a second limb.

Mike, 42, lost a leg after a skiing accident in 1990, precipitating deep vein thrombosis that eventually led to ulceration and amputation in 1993. Ten years later he had his second leg amputated.

He said being positioned at one end of the ground severely hampered his ability to take good photographs during Yeovil’s 3-1 defeat.

Added Mike: “I have never had anything like this out and about my town. I was just shocked because in the past I’ve taken pictures from pitchside in Hartlepool while it was snowing.”

A spokesman for Hartlepool United Football Club said: “We’re well aware of the Disability Discrimination Act but we must ensure that everything is safe for players, officials and spectators on match day.

“In the past we had an incident where a player was injured and missed games after sliding into photography equipment on the side of the ground.

“We have tightened up our health and safety restrictions on match day and we have a responsibility to our players and to Mr Kunz to ensure the safest possible working environment.

“He was allocated a spot in the away end which is just two metres further back from where he would have been on the pitch side. We have invited him to get in contact with us if he wishes to return to Victoria Park in the future so we can discuss suitable arrangements.”