Yorkshire Bank has paid David Foster the maximum claim of £1,000, just days before the case was due to be heard at a small claims court in Rugby.

And Mr. Foster said his 'victory' will be a stark warning for all large businesses who think they can ignore disabled people.

He added: "I am delighted with the news and I hope that this will be a wake-up call to those few people who believe they are above the law."

But despite the payout, Yorkshire Bank said the settlement is not an admission of liability.

The troubles began back in October 2004 when Mr. Foster, who is also chair of the Rugby Disability Forum, told bosses at the bank in North Street that they needed to have disabled access as part of a new law, which was set to take effect.

The forum carried out a survey of a number of shops across Rugby and named and shamed the ones that had not complied with the new government ruling in the Rugby Advertiser.

But when he heard nothing back from the bank, he pursued it again in May last year.

When he got nowhere again, he started legal action against the company, suing the company for not having adequate access and for damages to himself.

However, the bank said it had applied for planning permission for a new ramp with Rugby Borough Council but there was a delay in the process.

The date for the small claims hearing was set for February 21, where the maximum he could have recieved was £1,000.
But the bank contacted his solicitor, Tony Smith, of Prime and Co, and agreed to pay the £1,000 to Mr. Foster out of court this week, even though a ramp had been installed beforehand.

Mr. Foster added: "I have not made any money out of this because it has cost me more just to bring this forward."
Peter Brown, of Yorkshire Bank, said: "We had a number of difficulties, not least with the planning permission.

"But we are pleased to state that the building of a ramp has now been completed.

"We do take our responsibilities for the new disability act very seriously.

"An out-of-court settlement has been made but without any admission of liability on our behalf."