High-street retailer H&M has come under fire for selling a striped scarf which looks remarkably similar to a traditional Jewish garment used for prayer.

The controversial striped accessory is currently on sale for £12.99 on the shop's UK website.

But Twitter users noticed the design was reminiscent of a tallit scarf, in the same cream colour with black stripes and knotted ends.

High-street retailer H&M has come under fire for selling a striped scarf which looks remarkably similar to a tradition Jewish prayer scarf. The striped scarf is currently on sale for £12.99 on the shop's website

Twitter users noticed the scarf looked like it was based on a tallit scarf, in the same cream colour with black stripes and knotted ends, and were outraged. The scarf is worn during prayer

The tallit scarf is traditionally worn during prayer and led many to voice their outrage.

Twitter user Rav Ruttenberg wrote: 'Dear fashion, please step off other people's ritual items (or symbols of liberation really)' and posted a link to the H&M item.

Jason Rosenbaum posted: 'Wow. I'm not easily offended but that is one offensive scarf.'

While Sara Taylor Woods wrote about the scarf, which is also on sale in the US: 'Yo H&M this is exceedingly uncool.'

Allison Josephs, who tweets under the username @JewInTheCity wrote: 'H&M is selling a shawl that looks like a tallis [another term for the religious item] because being jewy is so on fleek!'

And Eli Langer summed it up by posting: 'Dear H&M, no, no, no and no.'

Twitter users were outraged by the scarf with one calling it 'offensive' while another, with the username @JewInTheCity, wrote it was selling the tallis, another word for tallit, because 'being jewy is so on fleek'

An H&M spokesperson told FEMAIL: 'We are truly sorry if we have offended anyone with this piece.

'Everyone is welcome at H&M and we never take a religious or political stand. Stripes is one of the trends for this season and something we were inspired by. Our intention was never to upset anyone.'

The spokesperson added to i100: 'The quantities were small and the products are no longer available in some markets.'

This is not the first time that H&M has faced backlash from culturally appropriating items.

In March 2014, the retailer pulled a vest from its shelves worldwide after accusations its design, which featured a menacing skull in the center of a Star of David, was anti-Semitic.

It's not the first time the store has caused offence. In March 2014, the retailer pulled this vest from its shelves worldwide after accusations its design, which featured a menacing skull in the center of a Star of David, was anti-Semitic

In 2013, the store caused outage for selling a feathered headdress in its UK and Canada stores. People complained that the headdress in question resembled those used by Native Americans, and was offensive

The menswear item, which was withdrawn this week following complaints, was also destined for sale in Israel, where the retailer has 14 stores.

The shirt first came under fire in the media from Israeli writer Eylon Aslan-Levy, who was horrified to see the shirt in a London store. The store apologised for causing offence.

In 2013, the high-street brand also came under fire for selling a feathered headdress in its UK and Canada stores.

People complained that the headdress in question resembled ones used by Native Americans, and it was therefore deemed offensive.