A PENSIONER says he is sick and tired of being abused by drivers telling him to get off the road when he is riding a motorised mobility scooter.

Stephen Ellison has been riding his vehicle – which can reach a top speed of eight miles per hour – on the roads for the last three years.

He has struggled with his mobility since an accident at work 30 years ago when he was crushed and only barely survived.

But having the scooter enables him to keep his independence - and he has even purchased a spare in case of a mechanical issue with his main ride.

It is perfectly legal for him to be riding the class of vehicle on the road, but the 64-year-old said is regularly shouted and sworn at as he travels from his home in Magnolia Drive, Colchester.

He said: “The abuse is getting out of hand.

“When I first got the scooter I was shouted at quite often.

“So I thought about what to do about it and decided to get myself a registration plate to make things look more official and see if it would make a difference.

“And, to be fair, things did calm down for a bit but now it is getting worse again.

“I didn’t have to get the registration plate - I am going above and beyond.”

Mr Ellison has the vehicle fully insured and believes people are unaware of the Government rules which say there is no reason for him not to share the roads with cars, buses and bicycles.

“The worst incident I have had was in Brook Street a few weeks ago,” he said.

“The woman was shouting and screaming at me telling me to get on the pavement – I wish I had taken down her registration number and reported her because it was that bad.

“I always drive courteously – as close to the kerb as possible and will wave people past me if I can see the road ahead is clear.

“Being on the road is the safest way to get around.

“I avoid the broken bottles on the pavement and all the lumps and bumps on the ground as well as the grass verges.

“People just don’t realise it is legal - I have been told by police I am doing nothing wrong.”

In May, The Gazette reported how traffic had come to a near standstill on the A12 after a pensioner was riding a scooter between Stanway and Marks Tey.

Police were forced to escort them to a safe place.

Scooter riders are not banned from dual carriageways but urged to avoid any road where the speed limit exceeds 50mph.

Mr Ellison said he would never consider driving on main roads.

He said: “I would never do that – it is common sense.

“I don’t even take it out in the rain.

“It is only short distances on smaller roads when I need to go to the doctors, the shops, into town or to the pharmacy.”