ANGRY mum Ivy Wood has slammed train bosses for the 'appalling' service she received on her way to what she hoped would be a holiday to remember.

Mrs Wood and nine-year-old son Christopher were looking forward to a week-long break at Butlins Family Entertainment Resort in Skegness.

However the Central Train journeys to and from Skegness were a nightmare with Mrs Wood citing overflowin g toilets, filthy carriages and no seats for many passengers.

The holiday was part of a two-week break paid for by the people of Congleton, who had been touched by the family's plight.

Mrs Wood's husband David, aged 45, from Lawton Street, Congleton, suffers from Motor Neurone Disease, an incurable condition which has progressed rapidly since being diagnosed last summer.

Family friends Joyce Chilver and Judith Thwaite decided to raise money to pay for what could well be Mr Wood's last holiday.

The couple and son Christopher were due to go to Butlins for two weeks, but because of Mr Wood's condition it was decided it was impractical. They opted for a week at the Park Hall Hotel in Conway, which caters for people with disabilities, which they greatly enjoyed.

Mrs Wood and her son booked themselves into Butlins for the second week, with Mr Wood being cared for at a hospice.

"When we got the train at Stoke there were no empty seats, and we had to stand all the way to Nottingham,'' said Mrs Wood.

"Both toilets were swimming and out of action, and at Nottingham a woman asked a porter if her daughter could use the platform toilet, as she had not been for four hours.

"The porter said no, and I stood with one leg on the platform and the other to stop the electric door shutting to make sure the train could not leave while the girl went.

"There was so little room those standing were literally hanging onto the seats. They must have been the oldest and filthiest rolling stock they had, the whole train journey was appalling from start to finish."

Despite several attempts the GUARDIAN was unable to contact Central Trains for a comment.

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