A disabled woman claims she was abandoned by staff at Ikea when a fire alarm sparked an evacuation at the huge Croydon store.

Leigh Wood, who has a terminal heart and lung condition, said she was left to make her own way out of the maze of walkways and showrooms - despite repeatedly asking staff for help.

Leigh collapsed and was wheeled out on a trolley for flat-packed furniture.

Ikea has apologised and invited the 36-year-old back for a tour of the store and a free meal.

But Leigh said: "I want them to rethink their health and safety policy, not give me a plate of Swedish meatballs and a tour of the fire exits."

Leigh and her husband Andrew, from Cranleigh, visited the store on February 20 with her wheelchair-bound grandmother.

They went near closing time to avoid the crowds.

She said: "I carry an oxygen tank with me and I'd had some in the car before going into Ikea.

"The alarms went off and everyone started running out of the building, staff included. Someone wheeled my grandmother off but left me and my husband.

"We asked someone to show us the way out but they pointed us towards the lift.

"It was like a maze and we couldn't find our way out - every step took us further into the store."

Leigh became so panicked she collapsed, unable to breathe properly or walk. She said: "There were abandoned trolleys everywhere and we were having to climb over them. It all became a bit too much for my lungs and I collapsed. My husband had to put me on a trolley and wheel me out that way.

"The staff were stunned when we got outside. One of them asked where did you come from?'"

A faulty sprinkler is believed to have set the alarm off and no one was injured.

Leigh added: "I just feel that because my disability wasn't immediately visible, no one bothered to help."

An Ikea spokesman said: "We have health and safety procedures in place and we were concerned to hear of this lady's experience.

"It should not have happened. We will look into her claims and get in touch with her."