A local politician is suing the Liberal Democrats over claims she was bullied and discriminated against for her race and disability.

Avril Coelho is taking legal action against the party over claims it failed to provide her with the reasonable adjustments she needed while campaigning to be elected to Richmond Council in 2018.

Ms Coelho - a member of the party since 2010 - was elected a Lib Dem councillor that year, having won a previously safe Conservative seat. 

She suffers from a rare degenerative condition called Parry-Romberg's Syndrome which causes epilepsy, migraines, severe asthma, chronic back pain, hemi-facial atrophy and asymmetry in her face.

She claims that despite being aware of her condition, the party did not provide the support she needed during her campaign.

Her case is due to be heard in Kingston County Court in October and she has launched a crowd funder to help with her legal fees.

A legal document, which sets out her claim against the party, states she complained of "racism and inequality of opportunity in the Liberal Democrats Richmond and Twickenham Local Party from 2016 onwards".

In one instance, when Ms Coelho was due to contest Hampton North Ward, she claims she did not receive sufficient support for her disabilities to give her an equal opportunity to other Lib Dem candidates.

The document says: "Due to epilepsy the claimant cannot drive, her back problems prevent her from carrying a heavy bag and her seizure frequency means that for her safety she should have someone with her.

"In the election campaign the claimant felt that as an intersectional person of colour and with her disabilities she was not getting reasonable adjustments from the local party in support of her campaign."

On another occasion Ms Coelho was set to be a part of a photoshoot after winning the Hampton North seat. However, hours before the election ended, she had experienced a seizure which left her "mentally and physically drained" causing her body to shut down and fall asleep. 

Despite this, the Lib Dems carried on the photoshoot without her even though they were aware of her condition that day.

"Knowing that the claimant's health was not considered left her feeling both let down and extremely angry, it just encapsulated the whole course of her election where the claimant had been ignored, overlooked and pushed to one side," says the document.

The document ends with Ms Coelho seeking compensation for the unjust treatment she claims to have experienced from the Lib Dems. 

It says: "The above disciplinary and other actions and decisions against the claimant have caused her stress which has adversely affected her mental and physical health, bringing on epileptic episodes, migraines, muscle spasms in her jaw, seizing of her jaw and other effects." 

Ms Coelho says she hopes her case will help other members of the party who have suffered similar treatment.

A spokesperson from the Liberal Democrats said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on this case given that proceedings are ongoing."