A mum has vowed never to return to a McDonald's branch again after she was refused access to the toilets for her potty training toddler.
Bernie Henderson, 36, was turned away by a staff member at the Grimsby branch on Victoria Street because she was not a paying customer of the fast food restaurant.
She pleaded with the employee for several minutes however she was eventually forced to take her two-year-old, Vaida Mae-Dale, to a nearby shopping centre to use the bathrooms there, Grimsby Live reports.
The incident occurred on Saturday, after the mother and daughter had been in the town centre for most of the morning and used the facilities in other businesses with no issue.
The mum is currently in the process of potty training Vaida and explained that she can't control when she needs to go.
Bernie says she's disgusted with the response from McDonald's and thinks that it's totally unacceptable to refuse a child the use of a toilet.
She said: "I've been potty training Vaida for a while now, but I can't control where and when she needs the toilet.
"We'd used toilets in town before we entered the vape shop on Victoria Street. Having explained that I would need to get my daughter to the toilet, they suggested I go across the road and use the one in McDonald's.
"Taking their advice, we walked across the street into McDonald's. Only two steps in I was stopped by someone who worked there and asked if we needed any help.
"I asked if I could borrow the toilet for my daughter and she just kept telling me that it was only for customers to use.
"In the end I had to take my two-year-old daughter all the way across town, just to go to the toilet.
"I can understand why you might turn some older people away because you don't want them causing issues, but not a young child.
"It was just awful.
"I was fuming and I'm absolutely livid about it. How could they refuse a little girl the use of a toilet?
"I work in a barbers and we let everyone use the toilets - from bus drivers to delivery men.
"I just can't understand why she would blatantly refuse to let her go to the toilet.
"I've spoken to some friends of mine about it and they said it isn't the first time they've heard of something like this.
"I've never had this problem anywhere else, but I definitely won't step foot in the place again - not a chance."
Bernie said she has since spoken to the branch manager who apologised.
A McDonald's spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear about this lady’s experience.
"As soon as they were made aware of the situation, the restaurant manager apologised and the restaurant crew were reminded of our expectations on how they should deal with similar requests in the future.”
