Eltham grandmother 'bawled at' for wearing furry hood up in Eltham's Poundland

Josephine Wilson says a security guard shouted at her for wearing a furry hood up, which showed her face, when she came in from the rain to the High Street bargain store on November 21.

The grandmother-of-three, of Broad Lawn, has slammed the chain’s "ridiculous" no hoods policy and says she is making a stand for "old girls" everywhere.

Mrs Wilson said: "I was bawled at by a security guard telling me to take off my hood.

"I am a 67-year-old grandmother. I was so insulted.

"I could see that if it was a group of youths all walking around with their hoods pulled down over their head it might be a bit frightening to other shoppers, but this was ridiculous.

"They are carrying it a bit too far. It wasn’t even polite.

"I have got to make a stand for us old girls."

She says she was out shopping with her friend Debbie Cooper and asked a guard where a children’s water bottle might be found when he yelled at her to remove the hood.

Mrs Wilson was upset and complained to the store’s manager who she claims would not stop stacking shelves to listen to her grievance.

She said: "The manager couldn’t be bothered to look at me.

"I know they have got to be careful but this is just ridiculous.

"Can I not walk in my high street without being worried about what I wear on my head? If I was from another culture I would be wearing a burka.

"I said: ‘I will never come into this store again.’"

She went on to say staff should inform customers politely of the policy and display clear signs at the entrance.

A Poundland spokeswoman said: "Poundland operates a no hood policy in its Eltham store.

"Going forward we will ensure this is clearly stated in the store to avoid future misunderstanding, and we apologise unreservedly for any upset caused on this occasion."