A depressed Chelsea fan has been barred from his local Watford pub after being told he was not spending enough money on match days.

Widower Martin Ramirez said he felt “humiliated” after being asked to leave the Nascot Arms, in Stamford Road, for sitting at a table with no drink last month.

The 60-year-old, from Stratford Road, suffers from poor eyesight and would get to the pub early to ensure he could sit near the screen.

However the pub’s landlord, Craig Fabian, said the fact Mr Ramirez would sit at a table for hours with no drink in front of him on busy match days had provoked complaints from other punters.

Mr Fabian’s decision has since been backed by the owners of the pub, Greene King, who have written to Mr Ramirez saying it is down to the landlord’s discretion who is banned from the pub.

Things between Mr Ramirez and Mr Fabian came to a head in the run up to last month’s Chelsea match with Man-chester United on Sunday, February 5.

Mr Fabian said Mr Ramirez did buy drinks and food when he first came into the pub but was finished hours before the 4pm kick-off.

He added: “He is done by 1.30pm and then sits there, he has nothing in front of him. It’s a busy pub.

“I spoke to him politely and said I had had some complaints about him sitting at a table taking up space.”

Mr Fabian said Mr Ramirez did not take the news well and left the pub.

Mr Ramirez, who does not drink alcohol because he is on medication, said he always bought a meal and a few soft drinks at the pub, which together cost around £10.

He said: “I can’t think why £10 is not enough. It is humiliating.

“Last year I lost my wife Ann. I have felt very, very depressed and am on antidepressants.

"I can’t understand why anyone would do this to me. I love watching football.”

The widower added that he had taken up the issue with Greene King, which had supported Mr Fabian.

A letter from the pub chain’s operations director, Clive Chesser, said: “We acknowledge your grievance with regards to being barred from the Nascot Arms, Watford.

“I am afraid, however, that it is the right of every publican to make a reasonable judgement on who he or she is prepared to allow into their premises.”