New Look has been slammed for imposing a 'fat tax' - after charging an extra 15 per cent for plus-size trousers compared to an identical pair in its standard range.

Shopper Maria Wassell, from Ashford, Kent, said she was 'absolutely disgusted' that a pair of striped trousers in the Curves range cost £22.99, compared to £19.99 in the main collection.

The mother-of-one, 43, also discovered online that the size 18 striped T-shirt that she had paid £12.99 for was being sold for just £9.99 in the standard range.

Maria, who has worked in retail for 26 years, said she is now boycotting the chain after noticing the price differences between its plus-size and standard collections.

New Look has responded by saying they are in the process of reviewing the pricing structure of its Curve range, which is designed for sizes 18 and over.

New Look has been slammed for imposing a 'fat tax' after charging 15 per cent more for striped trousers in its curve range (above), compared to an apparently identical pair in its main range

The green striped wide leg trousers are on sale online for £22.99 in the plus-size range

Maria, who is a size 18, said shoppers should not be penalised just because they are curvier.

'It's like I'm being discriminated against for being plus size when I'm only slightly bigger than average,' she said. 'The average size for a British woman is now a size 16.

'Plus size purchases are on the increase. If you look at the statistics, there's more money being spent on plus size clothing now then there was even three years ago.

'Why should we be penalised for being slightly bigger? A lot of retailers do this.'

The same striped trousers in the standard collection are on sale for 15 percent less

In fact, the trousers are on sale for £19.99 in New Look's standard, tall and petite ranges

She added: 'Some retailers have claimed that plus size clothes need more fabric and that's why it costs more. That's basically rubbish.

'I used to work for a plus size brand so I do understand a lot about how it works.'

Maria had been browsing online when she spotted the green stripe wide leg trousers were on sale for £19.99 in New Look's standard, tall and petite ranges, yet for sizes 18 and above, they cost £22.99.

She said she believes the retailer is alienating itself from vast swathes of shoppers by having price disparities on apparently identical items of clothing.

Shopper Maria Wassell, from Ashford, Kent, said she was 'absolutely disgusted' by the price disparities at New Look

She noticed that a green striped T-shirt featuring the words Tres Jolie cost £12.99 in the plus-size range

However, the same T-shirt in the standard collection is on sale online for just £9.99

Maria said: 'I shop in the Curves range myself. I purchased a green striped top at the weekend from their plus size range and when I looked online that same top was £3 cheaper for those size 16 and under.

'It's discriminating against those customers who are larger. Even the trousers in their tall range, which would also require more fabric, are the same price as the normal ones. I'm annoyed.

'Retail at the moment is a really hard business to be in and they're not doing themselves any favours. New Look are already closing stores down.'

Other examples of the pricing disparity include a red floral dress, which is on sale in £24 in the Curves range but £18 in the standard collection.

Maria said she is now boycotting the chain after noticing the price differences at the store

After contacting New Look, Maria claims she was told 'some products appear similar but may be slightly different'.

She has now vowed to boycott its stores until the pricing disparity issue is resolved.

Maria said: 'The response I received from New Look claimed the trousers I found online and the t-shirt I bought were slightly different in the Curves range - they are identical.

'The only way this will change is if we highlight it to them. Unless it's stopped I won't be shopping there.

Other examples of a price disparity at New Look include this floral dress, which is priced at £24 in the curve collection

In comparison, an apparently identical dress costs £18 in the standard collection at New Look

'Size is on the increase in general so they shouldn't be allowed to have price differences.'

A New Look spokesman said: 'To ensure pricing differences like these don't happen in future, we are in the process of reviewing the pricing structure of our plus size collection in a way which works best for our customers and our business.

'We are proud of the ranges we offer to our plus size customers and value all customers, no matter what their body shape or size.'