Staff at a fast food chain sent a pregnant woman crying from their restaurant after refusing to let her use the loos.

Distraught Natalie Brown, who is five months pregnant, was desperate to use the toilet and asked to use facilities in Burger King on North Street, Brighton.

But staff refused to let her use the loos unless she paid £1.

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Embarrassed Natalie, 24, of Worthing, offered the manager the only cash she had on her – 70 pence – but was told she would have to leave with her legs crossed.

Natalie, who even begged the staff to show some leniency and left the fast food chain in tears, said: “I just wasn’t expecting it.

“I had been at work all day and was on my way home and desperate.

“A member of staff told me I couldn’t use the toilets.

“I told him I was pregnant. He got his supervisor but they still refused.

“Regardless of my pregnancy the manager was unwilling to let me use the toilet. All I had on me was 70p in cash which I offered him and he refused.

“He told me I could pay the £1 on my card but by this point I was too furious to comply with such a ridiculous and cold hearted request. After pleading with them I was still refused and asked to leave and left the place in tears.

“It was grossly insensitive and uncaring and I am very unhappy about it. I feel it was a disgusting way to treat a pregnant woman.

“I was very upset by the whole experience.”

A Burger King spokesman said: “Providing a superior guest experience is a top priority at Burger King restaurants globally.

“We are aware of the incident that occurred at a Burger King restaurant in Brighton, which is independently owned and operated by a franchisee.

“We take this matter very seriously and the franchisee that owns and operates this store has reached out to this guest directly to apologize for any inconvenience that was caused.”