An NHS worker was left in tears after feeling humiliated by staff at a B&M store for trying to buy her young son a birthday present.

Robyn Fairfield-Bretherton, 28, works as a healthcare assistant for Aintree Hospital in Merseyside, alongside her mum.

After back-to-back 12-hour shifts, Robyn tried to pick some presents up for her son’s second birthday.

But Roybn’s sister says she was left humiliated and embarrassed after B&M staff ‘made a scene’ at Switch Island retail park in Bootle.

Stephanie Fairfield, 33, said: ‘Robyn went to pick up gifts for her son’s birthday.

‘Robyn showed her ID to the security staff and was refused entry unless she went to the back of the long excessive queue.

‘People in the queue offered to let her in before them and even said she was with them to get her in.

“[They] even offered to give their space up in the queue and go to the back of it for her but no this was also denied,’ she told the Liverpool Echo.

Stephanie said the security team went on to ‘make a scene’ and asked Robyn to go to the back.

According to Stephanie, the store manager then approached Robyn and also asked her to rejoin the queue at the back.

Stephanie added: ‘Robyn explained she had just finished her shift and would like to nip in very quickly to get her baby boy who is two tomorrow a few gifts.

‘Then the manager again refused her entry and said you get a 10 per cent discount but you need to queue like everyone else.

‘My sister is extremely quiet and shy as it is, she then decided to walk away from the store as she was humiliated and embarrassed and was in floods of tears.’

A spokesperson for B&M said: ‘We have experienced that allowing NHS colleagues to the front of the queue has put them and our colleagues at risk, as other people in the queue don’t realise they’re NHS employees.

‘We are unable to offer priority queuing at this time in order to keep our colleagues and customers safe.

‘We fully support the work of the NHS and have extended our colleague discount to all NHS employees.’

Robyn was eventually able to get some cake mix and a small toy for her son at a Sainsbury’s store.

However, Stephanie said she’s appalled at the manner in which her younger sister was treated.

Stephanie said: ‘Robyn said she would have queued any other day just like she has been doing since the start of this.

‘This was the first time she used her badge as she just finished her shift and wanted to get home quickly to her family.

‘She was humiliated as she walked away and rang my mum and couldn’t talk for crying.

‘I’m absolutely appalled at the manner she was treated and shocked that even though the queue offered her to go in front, the security guard and manager still went on to make a scene and go against the public’s wishes.’

Upon Robyn’s arrival home, Stephanie wanted to show her appreciation for her sister, despite the difficult day.

During the 8pm clap for key workers, Stephanie drove to Robyn’s house and blasted Love Inc’s 2002 hit You’re A Superstar out of the car window.

Stephanie said: ‘She’s my baby sister and I couldn’t be any prouder, she’s a true hero, angel and a superstar in my eyes.’

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