Woman dies after falling off escalator in Marks and Spencer

Paramedics pronounced the woman dead at the scene in the Sutton, south London store

An M&S spokesperson confirmed there had been a "tragic customer accident" at the store (Rex)

A woman has died after losing her balance and falling backwards on an escalator in Marks and Spencer’s.

The 94-year-old woman fell on the escalator and hit her head after reportedly losing her balance in the Sutton, south London store on Monday.

An eyewitness told ITV that staff had tried to find the store's first aider but they had already gone home when the incident occurred at 3pm.

The shopper, who asked not to be named, claimed the woman was already "fading away" before paramedics arrived, who later pronounced her dead at the scene.

The witness also accused staff of failing to ring 999 straightaway and close the store following the incident.

While waiting for paramedics, the witness said staff and shoppers shielded the lady from view with clothes rails.

An M&S spokesperson confirmed there had been a "tragic customer accident" at the store, but dismissed the witness' report saying the store "followed full and correct procedure" after incident by calling emergency services "within 30 seconds" who then arrived on the scene in "six minutes".

The spokesperson added: “The emergency services were called to our Sutton store yesterday afternoon following a tragic customer accident. We responded immediately by calling the emergency services and attending to the customer’s immediate needs.

"The London Ambulance Service arrived within minutes of being called and offered their full support. Our thoughts are with the customer’s family at this tragic time.”