A grandmother died after slipping on a bag in Poundland.

Great gran-of-13 Mary Martin, from Upper Halling, Rochester, fell face first after tripping on the plastic bag at the discount store and died 12 hours later.

The 83-year-old had been shopping for some jumpers with her daughter and son-in-law at the branch in Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey when she slipped.

CCTV footage from September 15 showed the moment the mum of two fell and hit her head.

Son-in-law Dave Dines, 54, who works as a labourer said: "Mum had just bumped into an old friend of hers who she hadn’t seen for years and they were talking about how they would see each other soon.

"We then went into Poundland and mum got some jumpers. We were at the till and I was in front of her. The next thing I knew she was flying towards me and she hit her head hard on the floor.

“I went straight over to make sure she wasn’t unconscious and put her in the recovery position. She had blood over the top of her eye and was conscious the whole time.

"What upset me most was that in their report Poundland referred to the bag that killed as a ‘bag for life'.

"This wasn’t a bag for life, it was a bag that took a life."

The retired catering worker was taken to Sheppey Community Hospital where she was checked over before being taken to her daughter's home.

"The next thing I knew she was flying towards me and she hit her head hard on the floor..." Dave Dines

That evening the family went out to a new Chinese restaurant in Sheerness and returned home at 9pm.

Daughter Julie Dines from Sheerness Holiday Park said: “Mum was getting ready for bed when she said she felt sick and the next thing I knew she was being violently ill. I kept screaming ‘mum, mum’ but there was no response from her at all. She was just sat on the bed and it was like she had gone.”

Five ambulances turned up to their home within minutes of a phone call but Ms Martin passed away in the early hours of September 16.

Mrs Dines added: “I can’t get what happened out of my head. I get upset all the time and can’t help thinking that if it wasn’t for that plastic bag my mum would still be here.

“We are seriously considering moving out of our home as we can still see mum being ill and being taken out of here by the paramedics. We just can’t live here anymore.

The family have now decided to take legal action against the high street giant for personal injury.

Mrs Dines said the store has 'blood on it's hands' following the tragedy.

The 57-year-old said: "When you go out for a spot of shopping you don’t expect to have an accident that costs you your life, but that’s what happened to mum.

“If she had been ill or had been knocked down by a car it would almost be easier to deal with, but to slip over on a plastic bag and die 12 hours later is just incomprehensible.

“I believe Poundland have got blood on their hands. I want justice for my mother’s life and I want them to take some responsibility for her death.

"If they don’t take those bags away from the ends of the tills then somebody else could lose their lives.”

Mr Dines added: “Poundland shouldn’t get away with this. That plastic bag which caused mum’s death was on the floor when she slipped on it. It was an accident waiting to happen and mum was the victim.

“Somebody should have picked up that bag rather than just leaving it there to kill her."

Karen Mann, specialist personal injury solicitor from Hodge Jones & Allen, which represents the family said: “Mary Martin’s family have been left devastated by losing their loving and kind mother and grandmother in such a horrendous way. What is most tragic in this case is that her death was totally avoidable. If the carrier bag had not been left on the floor then she would not have slipped over and lost her life.”

A Poundland spokesman said: "We're aware of what happened to Mrs Dines' mum in September.

"As you'd expect, we immediately reported the accident and anticipate the full circumstances will be looked at in due course.

"We have been in touch with the family and provided them with support. We continue to extend our sympathies to Mrs Dines and her family."