A WOMAN in a wheelchair was banned from every Marks & Spencer store after staff said she is a 'safety hazard'.

Susan Curran, 58, was told she was no longer welcome at the Stockport store after she rang an emergency bell in the disabled toilets when she got stuck.

When Miss Curran, who has cerebral palsy, returned to the store two days later, a manager gave her a letter saying she was not welcome back because she was a health and safety hazard.

A store boss said Miss Curran was being given the trespass order because staff were not trained to deal with her condition - so workers were being put 'at risk'.

But the store swiftly apologised after our sister paper, the Stockport Express contacted the company's head office.

Miss Curran, from Offerton, said: "I have been in a few times since, although it was very upsetting for me at the time.

"The manager rang me up at home to say I am allowed back. I like to go in to get a bit of shopping and go for a coffee.

"I'm sure if they caught a load of shoplifters, they would have got more respect than I did that day.

"It's not my fault I'm in a wheelchair."

Miss Curran pressed the emergency button when she got into difficulties because of her condition.

She added: "Someone came and helped me and I went back to my coffee.

"I think it was two days later when I was told I wasn't allowed in again.

"I was taken to a private room and she gave me the letter. The first thing I said was that 'I'm not having it'."

A Marks & Spencer spokesman apologised and said Miss Curran should never have been banned.

"The trespass order was issued in error - we are sorry and it was never our intention for Miss Curran to feel she was not welcome. Our store manager has contacted Miss Curran to reassure her she is welcome.

"She has a condition that requires specific care that staff in M&S - or any other retailer - are not trained to provide.

"We have asked that wherever possible she is accompanied by someone who would be better equipped to help her if she feels unwell."