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An embarrassed pensioner begged her granddaughter to return a £17 jumbo pack of condoms which she mistakenly bought thinking they were Tetley teabags.

Rosemarie Riley, 76, battled the elements on Tuesday to head to Asda for a few essentials including tea, bread and dog food.

It was only when she got home to her husband John that they realised she had paid £26.75 for the small shop.

The gran-of-eight popped to the shop without her glasses and had unknowingly slipped a 30-pack of Durex Thin Feel condoms into her basket, believing the box contained her favourite brand of tea.

With her husband John branding her a 'silly mare', red-faced Rosemarie asked her granddaughter Gemma Riley to return the condoms and get her £17 back - leaving the 29-year-old 'howling' with laughter.

(Image: Kennedy News and Media)

Cleaner Gemma, from Lancashire, posted the hilarious mix-up on Facebook, racking up more than 12,000 like, comments and shares.

She wrote: "Sooo nan's gone and bought these from Asda thinking they were teabags - and her wonderful granddaughter has the job of returning them.

"So please, if anyone sees me returning these, don't judge. I know Valentine's is around the corner but I have no use for them and they cost her £17. All she wants is her Yorkshire teabags.

"On another note, my day has just got a lot more embarrassing but goddamn hilarious at the same time.

(Image: Kennedy News and Media)

"Happy Tuesday. She will be wearing her glasses next time she goes shopping as we are worried what she might come back with."

Rosemarie was surprised the woman serving her hadn't said anything, but assumed 'she must have thought I was a bit raunchy'.

"I was mortified, my husband was more upset because I'd spent £17 on them," she said.

"I just threw everything onto the conveyor belt and shoved them in the bag, I didn't think.

"I suppose the lady should have said 'have you made a mistake?'

"My husband normally does all the shopping but he's not very well. I don't care, I just grab whatever's there, I'm a terrible shopper."

(Image: Kennedy News and Media)

Mum-of-one Gemma took one for the team and headed back to the store that evening, hiding the item to be returned in her bag before surreptitiously approaching the customer service desk to explain what had happened.

She said: "My nan said they were actually on the aisle where the teabags were - so either someone popped them back, or she's got mixed up, I'm not too sure.

"I said 'she's picked these up instead of the teabags, is there any chance I can get the teabags and return these?'

"The lady was laughing her head off. I was too and then I ran out there as quickly as I could.

(Image: Kennedy News and Media)

"I said to my nan 'I thought you were in for a good time'.

"I've not stopped laughing, and it's brought many people to tears.

"I saw the box on the side and asked her 'how come you've bought these?'

"She said 'I went to the Asda without my glasses and I picked them up thinking they were teabags'.

"She didn't notice what they were until my granddad noticed on the receipt.

"He'd said to her 'how come you've bought condoms, you silly mare?' He wasn't very happy she'd spent that much money on his card.

"From there we had a little giggle about it all and I said I'd return them for her."