Pyjama drama: Time to call it a day say Shropshire shoppers after store ban

Most customers at Tuffins in Craven Arms - all fully clothed - told us they were backing the shop's war on nightwear - and 87 per cent of Shropshire Star readers online said the store was correct to ban shoppers from coming in wearing pyjamas.

Shoppers shared a picture of a poster put up in the shop window saying it had banned customers from coming in while wearing night clothes.

And now shoppers have backed the stance, saying people need to wear proper clothes.

Wendy Ashbury, 57, from the launderette next door to the supermarket, said people who wear pyjamas out of the house needed to have more "self-esteem".

She added: "It's disgusting, you do not go in the supermarket in pyjamas - it's not hygienic. It's bed wear, which means they probably haven't washed and they could be touching fruit and vegetables."

Jane Chesson, 55, of Craven Arms, was also backing the ban.

She said: "I think it's a good idea. I know a lot of shops in Manchester have had this kind of ban for ages. It does cause a bit of a stir at first but people will get over it.

"However, some leggings look like pyjamas so people could end up getting asked to leave by mistake."

Regular shoppers David and Joan Candlin, from Newtown, said a rise in shoplifting may have led the store to take action.

David, 72, said: "Funnily enough I was talking about this problem the other week after I saw a woman in the shop in pyjamas and she looked rather silly. Sorry but you can get dressed properly to go to the shop. And I did hear that people were using their dressing gowns to steal.

Joan, 75 said: "I have worked in retail all my life so I know how difficult it is to stop people stealing. Nightwear is not the appropriate attire to come into a shop in anyway, you should dress properly. We have seen people come in in pyjamas plenty of times so I'm all for the ban."

However, not everyone was pleased with being told how to dress.

"They are not exposed, they are wearing clothes," said Jonathan Wellings, 29, from Craven Arms.

"People wear less in the summer – shorts and T-shirts are more revealing than most pyjamas, and some men go in with no tops on. I can't see anything wrong with it."

Jason Dufty, 26, from Craven Arms, said: "It's ridiculous, why shouldn't you be allowed to wear what you want? I always come down in my pyjamas in the morning. I completely disagree with the ban."

Since the ban was brought in last weekend, staff said several people have already been asked to leave though no one has had to be physically removed.

The new rule has clearly got the town talking, and many customers have seen the funny side.

Keith Pybus, 79, from Round Oak, said: "I suppose it would put me off my food if I saw someone in pyjamas in there, so I agree overall.

"Although I have been tempted, very occasionally, to come down in my bathrobe - I should have done it when I had the chance."