A disabled man was forced to ride almost five miles in the middle of the night in his wheelchair after a taxi firm sent the wrong vehicle to pick him up.

His journey in freezing temperatures took him up Blue Bell Hill and at about 1am, a police car stopped to find out what was happening and offer assistance.

Jim Sayer, who is paraplegic following a car accident four years ago, had to travel almost five miles from Aylesford Social Club in Rochester Road, Aylesford, following his daughter’s 18th birthday party, to his home in Lordswood in his motorised wheelchair.

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With freezing temperatures, Mr Sayer, said he feared the battery on his chair would run out and he would not make it home.

He said: “I can’t transfer from the chair, I have to stay in it. I have bad arthritis in my hands so I never really use taxis, I generally use buses.

"I don’t normally go to anywhere that isn’t absolutely necessary but there was no way in the world I was going to miss my daughter’s 18th birthday.”

Video: Reporter Graham Stothard hears about Jim Sayer's nightmare journey

Mr Sayer said when he made the booking with Streamline Taxis in Maidstone he was specific about his needs, and was assured the right vehicle would be sent, but on the night an estate car arrived.

“I thought that everything was fine. They were happy taking the booking. I even said to him on the phone ‘I’m so glad that you sorted this out for me’.”

He added: “The worst part was Aylesford to Blue Bell Hill. Much of it is a country lane. I went up Blue Bell Hill at four miles an hour.”

His family drove alongside him all the way, but none of their vehicles was able to take his chair.

“The party was the best thing I’ve ever been to in my whole life,” he said. “And then the evening was rounded off with that nightmare at the end.”

The party finished at 11pm and he made it home just after 2am.

He complained to Streamline in Headcorn, which apologised, saying the mix-up had been human error.