[cc100]

"I was totally humiliated and embarrassed" - Elizabeth Webster
Bikini shopper's 'humiliation'
9.40AM BST, 15 Aug 2003


A woman who told a bikini top at a supermarket has spoken of her "humiliation" at being told that her attire was inappropriate for shopping.

Elizabeth Webster, 43, went into the Tesco store in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, with her 15-year-old daughter, wearing a pair of shorts and a bikini top.

She was standing at the fruit counter when a member of staff told her she should cover up in future.

Mrs Webster, a parent-governor at her local school in Ruskington, Lincs, said she was left absolutely speechless by the remarks.

She said: "This woman came up to me and she said `Madam, could I ask you to cover up next time you come in the store'.

"I was speechless. I didn't reply. I was totally humiliated and embarrassed and just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me up completely.

"I didn't think in any way that what I had on was going to cause me any problems.

"I'm normally a very confident person. I didn't come out of the house that morning to cause any upset or offend anybody in any way."

Mrs Webster said she had just popped into the store to buy some lunch during the hot weather.

She said her teenage daughter cringed in embarrassment and disappeared when the shop assistant spoke to her.

She added: "I know that when I go shopping again I will not be wearing a bikini."

A Tesco spokeswoman said: "We would never want to embarrass any of our customers and we apologise if that has happened in this particular case.

"The store in question has already been in contact with Mrs Webster.

"Aside from issues of hygiene many of our customers have told us that they feel uncomfortable when they see other shoppers wearing skimpy clothing in our stores.

"We do get complaints on the issue and we try and find a balance to make sure everyone is happy while they shop.

"We don't have a formal dress code policy but we leave it to the manager's discretion and common sense."

Other shoppers at the Sleaford Tesco had mixed views about the supermarket's attitude. One said: "I don't think it's right going shopping like that. In the back garden, yeah, but in Tesco's no."

But another said: "I don't see any harm in it at all. I have a bikini, I wear a bikini outdoors, what's the matter going round doing your shopping."

[Romantic Old Bird]

That's it then. Tesco's is strictly out of bounds whilst I remain in my nipple tassels and g-string.

[Kaz]

Too much information, ROB!!

Although I'm sure you give Elle McPherson a run for her money in that ensemble!

[Sticks]

So that's a bikini off of the shopping list then