A mum has spoken of her horror after a doll brought as an early Christmas present was found dripping with live maggots.

Gemma Curtis, from Wallasey, was horrified to see the fly larvae wriggling on her kitchen counter after her son had run off with his new doll.

Little Noah, three, had no idea the toy was infested and accidentally dripped maggots around their family home.

Gemma, 34, told the Liverpool Echo : “Our 12-week-old twins were fussing so I just quickly opened the doll for Noah and when I turned back to the kitchen worktop to make some bottles I saw maggots.

“I had no idea where they had come from at first and then I saw them all stuck to the glue on the box and immediately snatched the doll out of Noah’s hands.

"There were maggots in the dolls clothes, it made my skin crawl."

Noah had bought the doll with Christmas money from his nan and granddad at B&M Bargains in Liscard and dad, Rob, 29, marched back to the store with the bug-ridden toy.

Gemma said: "Noah was very upset because he didn't really understand why I had snatched it off him, I tried to explain that it had bugs in it, but him and his brother Jacob, four, were very freaked out about it.

"When my husband took the doll back the staff at the shop opened another doll and checked it, apologised and gave us a box of sweets, but I have since sent a long email to the company as I think we need a bigger apology.

"I have been on a huge cleaning spree since and yesterday I still found a maggot on the carpet."

Operations manager for B&M Bargains Michael Dans said they are now investigating and no other stock in their stores being affected.

He said: "We are now in direct contact with the client and have replied to her email to get more information.

"The staff at the store have checked all the products and have found no further issues."