Supermarket Co-op have been blasted after they left a young mum humiliated and in pain when a staff member refused to let her use their toilet.
Crohn’s sufferer Annie Richards, 24, was at a Co-op branch in Plymouth when she asked if she could use their toilet.
Despite being desperate and in pain, she claims she that her pleas were ignored.
She told The Mirror: "It was absolutely mortifying. I was pleading with her to let me use the toilet and I was crying my eyes out because I was in so much pain.
"But she just carried on stacking the shelves like I wasn't even there.”
As she was in a rush, Annie left her medical card (which allows her access to staff toilets) in her car.
"Normally I carry my card with me, but I was in such a rush to use the toilet that I left my bag in my car.
"When I went back outside to get it, I just couldn't hold it in any longer."
Annie blasted the supermarket on social media, writing on Facebook that she was left in ‘agony’ following the incident.
The mum-of-one was diagnosed with the condition six years ago and must take medication everyday to help cope with her symptoms.
A spokesperson for The Co-operative Food told the paper: "For health, safety and insurance reasons staff toilets are not generally available to customers, but their use by customers is left to the discretion of the store team.
"We are sorry to hear about this incident and as a gesture of goodwill we will make a donation of £100 to a local Colitis and Crohn's Disease Association charity."
Learn more about Crohn's and symptoms of the condition at www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk