A mother who had food poisoning was told to leave a public library because panicked staff thought she had swine flu.

Marie Godi, from North Cheam, fell ill while on Ridge Road Library with her six-year-old daughter, Toni-Ann, and after asking staff for help she was given two leaflets about swine flu and told to go home.

She even asked for an ambulance after being sick several times, but a library worker said there was no point calling one as “they wouldn’t come to pick her up” because she “had swine flu.”

Mrs Godi said: “I started feeling unwell and went to the toilet. I came back out and my limbs were weak, I couldn’t even stand. I asked for a glass of water and started feeling sick again. I was then given two leaflets with information about swine flu and the lady told me to leave.

“She said she dealt with the public and couldn’t have me around because I had swine flu.”

After leaving the building, Mrs Godi, still in poor shape, was helped by a passerby.

Mrs Godi said: “She sat me down on a bench, but at that point I just wanted to go home. I kept walking towards home, but I was still feeling very ill and had to stop at this footpath.

“This boy in a hooded top came to ask me if I was alright. He then called an ambulance and they took me to hospital. I’m very glad he helped me, but I didn’t even have the chance to say thank you.”

The housewife was then kept on a drip for a few hours in hospital, where doctors told her she was suffering from food poisoning.

Mrs Godi said: “I’m feeling very upset and I never want to go back to the library. It used to be like my second home, but not anymore.”

A spokesman for Sutton Council said: “We very much regret how Marie was treated and would like to extend our sincerest apologies both to her and her daughter. While at the time staff felt they were acting correctly in advising her to return home given national advice on swine flu, we should have been more sensitive and offered her far better care.

“Our head of libraries, Cathy McDonough has personally apologised to Marie. We are reminding staff of our first aid advice and will be providing additional training. Marie is a valued member of her local library and we hope to see her again soon.”