Too posh to push? She's too Posh not to be pushed

First, she was pilloried for being too posh to push after opting for Caesarean births for each of her three sons. And now Victoria Beckham is at the centre of a new controversy: being too posh to walk.

Britain's most famous footballer's wife (right) has outraged campaigners by using a motorised airport buggy, the type intended for pensioners and disabled people.

Mrs Beckham was photographed astride the vehicle at Heathrow airport earlier this month. Her public relations people have attempted to downplay the incident, saying the former member of the Spice Girls was fleeing paparazzi at the time and needed a quick escape.

The UK Disabled People's Council (UKDPC), which represents 80 disability rights groups, has said it is "awful" that the celebrity is abusing her star status, especially as Virgin Atlantic has only two buggies available at Heathrow, including the one used by Mrs Beckham.

"Its absolutely awful that just because she is a star she believes she can get away with using something that someone else might need at that airport," said Anne Pridmore, UKDPC chair.

However, Mrs Beckham is not the only celebrity to take advantage of their VIP status to avoid the onerous walk to the departure gate. The list of others who have been too posh to walk in the airport includes Robbie Williams, Jordan, Elton John, Rod Stewart, David Hasselhoff, Britney Spears, George Michael, Elizabeth Hurley and Paul McCartney.

The decision of the airlines to pri-oritise celebrity over the needs of disabled people has left other organisations fuming. "We don't know for sure whether Victoria Beckham may have had some temporary impairment which means she couldn't walk," said Neil Betteridge, chief executive of Arthritis Care.

"If she simply wanted it for convenience, we would have to condemn it as appalling."

There is a limited number of buggies at airports, and Mr Betteridge explained that many people with serious medical problems often have to go without or wait a long time for one.

However, Virgin Atlantic said it had no problem with Mrs Beckham using the vehicle. "Disabled passengers take priority,"

said Janine Donovan, a spokeswomen. "These buggies are used for a number of reasons: for disabled passengers, families with young children, people with lots of luggage and even people who are late for their flights."

Robbie Williams

The singer couldn't face the long walk when he arrived at London Heathrow airport

George Michael

Michael and his boyfriend Kenny Goss take it easy on an airport buggy

Elton John

Sir Elton and his partner David Furnish ride past the waiting paparazzi in the arrivals lounge

Britney Spears

Her transatlantic flight left Spears exhausted by the time she touched down at Heathrow

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