Press Release

For immediate use 02/02/10 PENSIONER PYJAMA PROTEST

Tescos have put in a controversial bid to bring a retail store to the historic market town of Faringdon, Oxfordshire, and following the recent incident in Cardiff which led Tesco to ban the wearing of pyjamas within their stores, local pensioners Patricia Pinches, and Hilary Taylor decided to put the management of Faringdon's existing supermarket, Budgens, to the test over its customer dress code before deciding whether to support the Tesco bid or not. Wearing their pyjamas they entered their local Budgen's store at 9 oclock this morning. Pat, a retired GP said "I feel it is important that individuals should not have to put their health at risk by being placed under stress about what to wear for their everyday retail experiences. We are faced with enough bewildering choices without having to make decisions over our appearance when popping out to the shops for a quick pick-up" The ladies bought a bottle of champagne, a litre bottle of gin and a pack of 12 x150ml tonic water. Hilary said "I always like a bottle for breakfast. If they throw us out for wearing our pyjamas they can forget my frigging vote" Pat wore a glamorous oyster silk two piece sleepwear ensemble while Hilary favoured modest brushed cotton pyjamas in pale blue with a little pink heart motif, "As it's quite near Valentines day, I though these would suit rather well" she added. When asked for his views on customer dress, Budgens proprietor Simon Tiensa stated "I have no problem with pyjamas - the more the merrier!" The Tesco v Budgens debate has stirred up a great deal of feeling among the locals, and opinion is fiercely divided as to which retail option will suit them, since some residents feel that an out-of-centre store will kill off the existing retail outlets within the town, and discourage shoppers, while others welcome the increased choice that Tesco will bring. END