A RECORD £240,000 has been awarded to a woman whose health was destroyed after she bit into a fat black worm during a meal on holiday.

Accrington mum-of-three Beryl Rushton has been fighting for justice for seven years after discovering the half-inch thick, blood-covered worm inside her red snapper fish steak at a luxury Domincan Republic resort.

The two week break in the Caribbean left her fighting for her life.

She ended up suffering from septicaemia, organ damage, temporary blindness and deformity to her spine and joints.

However it has taken years to reach a settlement with tour operator First Choice since her ordeal in 2001 on a Christmas break to the five star Tropical Beach resort in Puerto Plata.

The formerly active woman is now largely confined to a wheelchair and relies on carers.

She said: “I am angry it has taken so long.

"They would ask me over and over again to see yet another specialist.

"You go on holiday to recharge your batteries. You don't expect something like this to happen.”

Beryl caught a flight back to Britain and was rushed straight from Manchester Airport to Accrington Victoria before she was transferred to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where a consultant from Liverpool’s School of Tropical Medicine was called in.

Doctors discovered an infection contracted from the worm attacked Beryl's brain, liver and pancreas.

Her lengthy legal struggle was supported by specialist travel law solicitor, Paul McClorry from Manchester firm, Pannone.

A spokeswoman for First Choice said they no longer used the hotel.

She said: “First Choice was very concerned to hear about Mrs Rushton’s illness while staying at the Hacienda Tropical.

"We would like to reassure our customers that their health and safety is of paramount importance.”