by Nikki Jarvis

A wheelchair-bound woman was "appalled and terrified" when no one helped her alight from her train at East Croydon station – forcing her to travel on to Gatwick Airport.

Diane Holyoake, 66, asked staff at London Bridge railway station to ensure someone was waiting for her with a ramp at East Croydon.

The mum-of-five was returning home from a night at the theatre with her son last Wednesday but when they got to their stop there was not a ramp or staff member in sight.

Mrs Holyoake, from North Walk, New Addington, said: "The doors just closed so quickly and there wasn't an emergency lever anywhere that we could see – it really did ruin my night.

"If I had been on my own I definitely would have had a panic attack and I'm sure I would have had to carry on to Brighton, the final stop.

"It really is appalling and if my son hadn't been there god knows what I would've done – anything could have happened to me.

"It was bitterly cold and I was tired – it's just a shambles and it shouldn't be allowed to happen."

Mrs Holyoake's son Rodney, 35, always travels with her as she has had problems with the trains in the past.

"I never go out alone anymore because it's too scary," she said.

"This really did make me feel powerless – what if it happened to older, more vulnerable people, who were alone?

"Rodney is epileptic and could've had a fit at any time – with no one there to help what would I have done then?"

When the train stopped at Gatwick Airport – the next stop along – 20 minutes later, the only person Rodney could find to come to their rescue was a cleaner on the platform.

The pair caught a train back to East Croydon and staff made sure there was a ramp waiting for them to get off.

They had left London Bridge at about 11pm and planned to be safely at home within 45 minutes, but did not get back until 1.30am.

A spokesman from Southern said: "We are extremely sorry that Diane ended up at Gatwick Airport when she wanted to travel to East Croydon.

"It seems that the message didn't reach staff at East Croydon, who were unaware that she was on the train and needed assistance in alighting. We apologise for the breakdown in communications."

The company said anyone needing help to travel on the railway should call their Assisted Travel line on 0800 138 1016 or Minicom 0800 138 1018, 24 hours in advance.