A LEUKAEMIA-stricken pensioner who suffers from a number of serious health conditions has told of her hurt at being branded a 'queue jumper' in Greenock's Primark — because she used the disabled checkout.

Margaret Hellier, 76, says that a rare day out shopping for her great grandchildren was ruined by an impatient customer who shouted at her and complained that she was 'on her dinner break'.

Margaret — who has osteoporosis, arthritis and is awaiting a hip replacement — said she felt 'really small and low' as a result of the unkind outburst.

With her voice trembling with emotion, Margaret told the Telegraph: "This one in the middle of the queue shouted, 'Aye, she jumped the queue, she's not been in the queue'.

"At this point I turned round and said, 'This is a disabled queue, Primark's got that'.

"I wish I'd gone up to her and said, 'If you felt how I feel, hen, you'd wonder what was wrong with you'.

"Another woman came out of the queue and tapped me on the shoulder as if to say, 'Don't worry about her'.

"I thought it was terrible, the way she was shouting and talking about me.

"I worked all my days and I had to do things on my dinner break but I wouldn't be nasty like that to anyone."

Margaret, of Port Glasgow, said the outburst 'really got to me'.

She said: "How would she feel about somebody talking to her mother like that?

"I just want people to know that you can go to Primark to a disabled counter, and everybody's nice to you there.

"There was no need for her to shout.

"She must have known I was at the disabled counter.

"I don't go out all the time, I can't go far or walk fast.

"I've just got to take my time.

"I try to be independent, I want to be able to do things.

"I get out for a couple of hours, go to Primark, have a wee walk round, go for something to eat and then that's me home.

"It's a day out.

"I don't do it every day, and it was ruined."

Primark confirmed the incident took place at the Oak Mall store on August 5.

A company spokeswoman said: "We're aware of this complaint and we were sorry to hear it happened.

"We work really hard to make sure our stores are enjoyable places to shop.

"When an issue is raised by a customer we will always try to facilitate them and resolve it.

"We encourage everyone to be courteous in our stores and hope to welcome this customer back soon."