A SINGLE mum-of-four says she was fired from her retail job after borrowing a lighter from a store shelf during a cigarette break and eating a packet of peanuts.

Kylie McLean, 28, was given her marching orders at Liquorland’s Mt Sheridan Cellars after working there for about three months.

"I’m really upset. It’s before Christmas and I have four mouths to feed and it’s all over a cigarette and a bag of nuts," Ms McLean told The Cairns Post.

"At least give me a warning instead of firing me.

"I want an apology. I’m doing this (going public) because it’s wrong. I have accepted responsibility for it but they can’t just do that.

"I did use the lighter and put it back and I ate the peanuts because I was starving."

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Ms McLean took the items on November 21 during her 10am-5pm shift.

In a report obtained by The Cairns Post, the Coles-owned store managers said the business would not accept behaviour that was a "breach of trust" and was not in accordance with the company’s code of conduct.

"All team members are required to pay for stock before consuming it or leaving the business with it," the report said.

"Kylie, there is no evidence that you paid for either of these items as there were no sales recorded for them on the transaction report."

But Ms McLean claims she did pay for the peanuts after eating them, and could not believe the store manager accused her of stealing.

"I left $3.25 on top of the register and we’re not allowed to serve ourselves. That’s why I left it there and I’ve got a receipt for it," she said.

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