Australian Lovett suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease which means she cannot see out of one eye and has limited vision in the other.

She was asked to leave the venues in Wollondilly, south west Sydney, and told the Wollondilly Advertiser: "It's appalling, we're not in the Dark Ages".

Lovett has had the dog, Prada, for 12 years and said that it "is extremely well behaved".

She also confirmed that she had spoken to the Human Rights Commission and was taking action, calling on people "to think and be aware".

Lovett has competed in two Paralympic Games – Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

Lovett said she contacted the Human Rights Commission the day after the incidents happened and filed a complaint.

The Australian Human Rights Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes told Australian media that it is illegal to refuse guide dogs entry to public spaces.

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