Bank worker Lee Doyle was almost killed by stress balls handed out by her union to ease the pressures of the working day.

Finance union Unifi thought it was doing the Sunderland Barclays call centre staff a favour by providing the spongy yellow balls.

However, mother-of-two Ms Doyle, 36, of Sunderland, Wearside, has a severe latex allergy and suffered a reaction that left her seconds away from death.

Stress levels in the office were raised as a colleague helped her out of the building. Fire alarms went off as Ms Doyle was carried out on a stretcher.

Yesterday, the union apologised and launched an investigation into the incident.

Ms Doyle did not touch the ball, but inhaled minute fragments of the rubber as she walked through the office.

Within seconds she was close to collapse, having difficulty breathing and slurring her words.

Colleague Rob Robson, 28, grabbed her in his arms and made for the fire exit.

Once in the car park, he gave Ms Doyle a life-saving adrenaline injection.

Ms Doyle has made a full recovery and was able to return to work two days later.

She said: 'I know the union was only trying to help, but they ended up sending stress levels soaring."

Ms Doyle has suffered the allergy all her life and carries medical supplies with her.

Barclays has briefed her colleagues on how to react if she collapses, and accounts operator Mr Robson was praised for his actions.

He said: "I have worked with Lee for quite a while and knew all about her allergy.

"I knew that it was important to get her out of there and get the adrenaline into her body."

Unifi, which represents 170,000 workers in financial call centres and high street banks, apologised for the incident.

A spokesman said: "We are extremely sorry that this has happened to one of our members.

"We will contact the manufacturers of these balls and see what can be done about the situation.

"There will certainly be an investigation into the incident.