Mecca Bingo in the Netherlands has issued a formal apology to Ian Mann after a member of their staff refused to let him use their toilets even though he showed them a card that proved he suffered from a debilitating illness called “ulcerative colitis”. Mann, a taxi driver from Tuckswood in Norwich, had just dropped a passenger off at the Mecca Bingo Club in all saints green in Norwich, when he asked if he could use their toilet due to his illness, ulcerative colitis - a chronic bowel condition which means he needs to use the toilet quite frequently.

40 year old Mann is keen to raise awareness of this condition to help other people in the same situation as himself. After the incident at the bingo club he commented, "I produced my card from the Colitis and Crohn's Association, which explains that I have a non-contagious medical condition which means I need to use the toilet regularly, and asked if I could use the facilities. She had the audacity to say that I would have to become a member to use them."

Lesly Huges made a statement of behalf of Mecca Bingo. She said, "We are very sorry. It is our policy that only members can enter the building, but under exceptional circumstances such as this we would certainly allow someone to use the facilities. We will be speaking to all staff, not just the member of staff involved, to make sure they are aware of our policy. If anyone else produces a card such as this then we would allow them to use our facilities. We would like to extend our apologies to Mr Mann."