Last updated at 16:02 15 January 2008

Created: 15 January 2008

A Muslim store worker at Marks & Spencer refused to serve a customer buying a children's book on biblical stories because she said it was "unclean".

Sally Friday, a customer at a branch of one of the famous stores, felt publicly humiliated when she tried to pay for First Bible Stories as a gift for her young grandson.

When the grandmother put the book on the counter, the assistant refused to touch it, declared it was unclean and then summoned another member of staff to deal with the purchase.

Mrs Friday was so upset that she has now complained to the store's manager.

Politicians and religious leaders supported her in condemning the high street chain and it has reignited the debate over religious beliefs in the workplace.

Conservative MP Philip Davies said the refusal to serve Mrs Friday, 69, was "unacceptable" and "damaging" to community relations.

Inayat Bunglawala, assistant secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, described the assistant's comments as "offensive" and called for Marks & Spencer to conduct an investigation.

He said: "This appears to be a very regrettable incident and the 'unclean' remark was clearly very offensive and unacceptable.

"Many Biblical stories complement the teachings of the Koran. We hope that M&S will investigate this incident."

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A spokesman for Marks & Spencer today said that an investigation into the alleged incident was under way.

She added: "We are surprised by this alleged incident and are investigating it thoroughly.

"It appears that there has been some misunderstanding over what was said.

"We have apologised to Mrs Friday over any distress caused."

A source close to the shop assistant claimed there had been a misunderstanding.

She said: "I think there was some confusion over what the customer heard."

Mrs Friday said that the incident had ruined her trip to the sales in Reading, Berks, with her daughter.

She said: "I went to the till and heard the girl say it was unclean and then she got someone else to serve me.

"At first I wasn't sure what was going on and then I realised she was wearing a headdress and I clicked that the title of the book had Bible in it.

"I felt very humiliated and immediately left the store."

Mrs Friday, who lives in Old Basing, Hants, went on: I have given it careful thought and still feel humiliated that because I am purchasing a children's Bible story book, a cashier is able to object and refuse to put it through the till.

"Had this been a copy of the Koran I am confident any Christian person would be happy to do her job, and for this to happen in a Marks & Spencer of all places beggars belief.

"I am not racist but I have vowed never to let a person wearing a head-dress serve me again.

"It will be a long, long time before I shop again at M&S."