51�Թ�

The mother-of-two said her diagnosis came as "a huge surprise" as her previous smear tests had always came back clear of abnormalities.

When she went for her first smear test, she was asked to lie on the floor instead of an examination table because it was not safe.

The trust said it could not be concluded that the eight women had developed cancer because abnormalities on their smear tests were missed.

She told how women would arrive "none-the-wiser", expecting a normal medical test - but were instead subject to a "full internal screening" - cervical smear tests and full sexual health checks.

It says patients should be offered local or general anaesthesia for the procedure and their medical history should be taken into account, including trauma or difficulty with smear tests.