A woman with a serious bowel disease was humiliated when petrol station staff refused to let her use their toilet in a desperate moment.

Suzie Ryan, who lives in Hertfordshire, was driving home from work on Monday (December 12) when she realised she needed the toilet and quickly pulled into the nearest petrol stations – a Londis in Wood Street, High Barnet.

At the station, Mrs Ryan, 31, explained she has inflammatory bowel disease which can make it difficult or even impossible to hold in a bowel movement.

The person behind the station till refused her request to use the toilet, saying it was for staff use only.

As Mrs Ryan, a relationship manager for a bank, made her way back to the car her bodily urges became too much.

She said: “It was incredibly humiliating as I have never been forced into a situation like this before – I am just so angry they could let this happen.

“I rang the manager when I got home and he told me the same – the rules were staff only – but he also said they made exceptions for pregnant women and small children.

“I don’t see how my situation, living with a serious bowel problem, is any different and now I can never show my face in there again.

“I want people to be aware of how I was treated so they avoid going to this petrol station in a similarly desperate time of need.”

When Mrs Ryan called up Londis’ central office to complain the person on the phone was surprised as they claimed to have heard an identical complaint about the same station this week.

On request for comment, an unnamed Londis spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear about the incident.

“All Londis stores are independently owned, however we will pick up with the retailer directly.”

According to Mrs Ryan, the regional manager for Londis has been in touch and will investigate the incident.