The mother of an autistic man has called for greater understanding from city centre businesses towards people with mental disabilities after years of prejudice.

Joy Smith's son, Vincent, was born with autism. Now aged 38, Vincent still suffers from prejudice from many of the places he visits, which is distressing for both him and the people he is with.

Mrs Smith, from Lympsham Green, Odd Down, says businesses in the city have to be more understanding of a disability which is not very apparent.

She called for the Mayor's Challenge Award, being run in conjunction with The Bath Chronicle and the Chamber of Commerce, to pay attention to people with learning difficulties who often faced as much prejudice as physically disabled shoppers.

On recent occasions, shop staff had completely ignored Vincent despite her own repeated requests for help and it was only when other shoppers intervened that something was done.

Mrs Smith said Vincent's autism caused him to often talk to himself as well as strangers, which had got him into trouble in the past.

Because he is a big man, many people seem intimidated by him, she explained.

"When he goes into shops, people pretend he's not there, " she said.

"When we come into Bath I am left feeling we are not accepted at all.

"Employers should educate their staff so people like Vincent are treated with the same respect they would give to someone else.

"He is autistic and does act a little strange sometimes but he is no threat to anyone.

"It upsets me very much because I get it all the time.

"He doesn't understand why people treat him this way. He is clever enough to know people do treat him differently but he doesn't understand why.

"We have always had bad reactions from people. When he was little he would have tantrums and people would say I should smack him because they didn't understand.

"It has been a hard struggle for me.

He was one of the first people in Bath to be diagnosed with autism but it just seems to have got harder as he has got older."

Bath mayor Cllr Loraine MorganBrinkhurst agreed that everybody was entitled to the same level of service, no matter who they were.

She said: "I'm very disappointed and saddened to hear about this.

"I believe everybody is equal and is entitled to the same level of service and the same amount of respect.

"The award is about recognising good service and good access in local businesses and shops by thanking those companies who give that little bit extra to the public.

"We hope those businesses that don't consider disabled people and people with learning difficulties will learn from these awards and recognise they can improve."