The Championships are due be hosted at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham between July 1 and 17 and organisers had requested that Mandeville, the mascot for the Paralympics, make an appearance.

But they were stunned to be told that it would cost them £850.

Richard Callicott, the chairman of the local organising committee, told insidethegames: "Following the launch of the London 2012 mascots, we thought it would be a fantastic opportunity for Mandeville to appear at our World Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Birmingham.

"We though that it would not only be a great boost for the event itself and all of the children attending but that it would help boost awareness of the London 2012 Paralympic Games and of Paralympic sport in general which I am led to believe is the mandate of the mascot.

"LOCOG told us that they would be delighted to have Mandeville attend the event at a cost of £850.

"We were disappointed at LOCOG’s decision to charge an appearance fee for the mascot and we are not prepared to pay £850 so as a result, Mandeville will not be appearing at the event.

"Instead, Aston Villa Football Club’s mascot and the Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s mascot will be attending the event.

"Both of these mascots will be attending the event free of charge."

Callicott, the former chief executive of UK Sport, claimed that he was sadden by the fact that London 2012 had taken such a stance towards a world class Paralympic sporting event and claimed that they have missed a great opportunity to promote the Games.

He said: "I can see why LOCOG would see the need to make money from the mascots with regard to commercial opportunities but I do not see why they have taken such a hard line commercial attitude to an international Paralympic sporting competition in England.

"I do not think they have done themselves any favours in terms of public relations and it seems like a missed opportunity for them to promote their own brand to a young audience which I thought was the point of the mascots.

"We would have been honoured to have Mandeville attend the event and we still would be but we are simply not prepared to pay £850 for the privilege."

The former Sports Minister Kate Hoey plans to raise the matter in the House of Commons but London 2012 defended the decision to charge events for the mascots to appear.

They claimed that they receive no profit from costumed mascot appearances and that they invest a large amount of money into ensure that the mascots visit children in schools across Britain in the lead up to the Games. 

A spokesman for London 2012 told insidethegames: "LOCOG does not profit from costumed mascot appearances in any way and indeed we pay for our own appearances. 

"We work with a third party company for mascot appearances and the fee covers actors, a chaperone for each mascot, travel and accommodation if needed, cleaning of the costume and public liability insurance.

"We will ensure that the Wenlock and Mandeville travel the length and breadth of the country to promote both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games."

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