A disabled toddler was given VIP treatment at a cinema after her first trip to see a film was ruined.

Little Jessica Buesden, who has Downs syndrome and a hole in her heart, was looking forward to seeing a movie with her parents and older brother and sister at Cineworld in Rochester.

But two-year-old Jessica, who also has suspected autism, is sometimes sensitive to light and noise so got upset when the screening began.

Mum Lauren Armstrong took her out into the lobby to calm her down but was shocked by the reaction she got from staff.

Miss Armstrong said a group of employees stood just feet away from where she sat down with Jessica, laughing and staring at them and then refused to help when Jessica was sick.

Jessica was born with two holes in her heart and had surgery to repair them when she was just four months old. She has since developed another hole in her heart. She cannot eat or drink so she is fed through a pump.

Miss Armstrong said: "It is dangerous for Jessica to get upset. I was trying to calm her down but because the staff were staring and I could tell they were talking about us and laughing, I was getting angry and Jessica was picking up on that so she wouldn't calm down."

Miss Armstrong wrote about the incident on Facebook and her post has now been shared more than 700 times. It was spotted by Odeon in Chatham Maritime who invited the whole family for a day out.

On Saturday, Miss Armstrong and partner Liam Buesden took Jessica with her siblings Harry, seven, and Lilly, four, to see Kung Fu Panda 3. They were given free food and drinks and the children were treated to goody bags.

Miss Armstrong, 25, of Seasalter Road, Warden Bay, Sheppey, said: “I cannot fault the staff at the Odeon. They really treated the kids, they loved it. Based on that experience we will definitely go back.”

The family has now been given an apology by Cineworld and sent flowers, chocolates and a teddy. The chain has also offered them free tickets to see a film but Miss Armstrong said they will not be accepting them.

She added: “We won’t be going back there. I felt humiliated, angry and upset.

“I posted on Facebook just to warn other people about the treatment we got, it was shocking. I never expected it to get such a reaction but it has been nice to get lovely comments.”

A Cineworld Spokesperson said: "We were very sorry to hear about Lauren's recent experience.

"It's important to us that our cinemas are a welcoming and comfortable environment for every customer. All our staff receive regular training on how to help customers with additional needs.

"We have been in contact with Lauren and her family. With their support we have carried out a full investigation which showed that staff members did assist Lauren and her daughter.

"We acknowledge that they could have been more prompt in doing so, but they didn't wish to intervene and cause further distress.

"We have taken on board Lauren's feedback and have invited her family back to the cinema so that we can improve their experience."