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A kindhearted schoolgirl has blasted Starbucks after a barista told her to "let nature take its course" when she bought a sandwich for a homeless teenager shivering outside.

Amy McIlroy, 14, from Hamilton said she felt "disgusted" after the shop worker callously alluded that she shouldn't waste her time being compassionate to the starving boy outside the branch in Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow .

Undaunted, the generous youngster ignored the heartless advise and fed the boy, thought to be 16.

The coffee chain's bosses have said they are "urgently investigating" the incident and have apologised to Amy.

She tweeted: So fkn disgusted. @StarbucksUK went in to one of your Glasgow branches to get some food for a 16-year-old homeless boy who was physically shaking from the cold and was told off a worker that I'd be better 'saving my money and letting nature take its course'.

"I'm at a loss for words."

Speaking today, Amy said: "I was really taken aback when the barista said what he said because I've never experienced that type of hatred or ignorance towards a stranger who hasn't done anything to merit such vile behaviour."

"I didn't get his name but the young boy looked around 16 or 17 and didn't seem as if he had been on the streets for that long."

She added: "My friend was with me at the time and she was saying that the barista was not worth responding to but I told him that it was a disgusting thing to say and that I hoped he didn't speak for Glasgow.

"There are a million circumstances that could lead to someone becoming homeless. Starbucks should be held accountable for clearly not training their staff well enough in customer service."

The retail giants are no strangers to being on the receiving end of a customer backlash after it was reported another homeless man was turfed out of their Buchannan Street branch in March 2017.

At the time, Starbucks said that they "fully supported" the conduct of their staff, claiming the man was known to them from previous "aggressive" incidents.

Marianne Gallagher tweeted: "I bought a young boy (likely the same one) a coffee from that Starbucks on Friday. I'll take my money elsewhere in future."

Bethany Scott added: "Wow. Bye Starbucks. I'll spend my money at Pret instead."

Another Twitter user added: "What kind of heartless b****** could say this about any human?

"Hear so many horror stories about Starbucks, you wonder what their teaching/training process is."

Amy's mum praised her daughter for how she handled of the situation and thoughtfulness.

(Image: Google)

Liz, 52, said: "She's very soft-hearted and has never had that boy out of her head since.

"I'm proud of her. She's that sort of person who is always thinking of others."

A spokeswoman for Starbucks UK said today: ""We're urgently investigating what has happened here and have been in touch with the customer directly to apologise.

"We believe in creating a place that is welcoming for all and we are disappointed that this incident does not represent the values we expect in our stores."

There has been mounting concern for the plight of the homeless during the spells of extreme cold weather this month.

A homeless veteran died in Edinburgh a week before Christmas while sleeping rough. Darren Greenfield, 47, who sat at the top of the Waverley Steps on Princes Street, died after he was admitted to hospital.