A FURIOUS shopper has hit out at a supermarket chain for letting shoppers in the store whilst not wearing masks.

John Noskavich-Smith visits the East of England Co-op store, in Tamarisk Way, Greenstead, on a daily basis.

He says when he visited on Tuesday he saw three people ignoring the various signs in situ and not wearing masks inside.

Upon challenging store staff about those not wearing masks, Mr Noskavich-Smith, 57, says he was told they couldn't do anything about it.

He said: "I went to the Co-op to do a bit of shopping and whilst inside I saw three people in there without masks on.

"There are big signs inside telling people to wear they need to wear them.

"But the Co-op said the are not allowed to refuse any customers.

"It is not right. I have had my next door neighbour to the left of me die of Covid and the one who lives the other side is in hospital with it.

"I am asthmatic and vulnerable to Covid myself and I do not need to be going to places where people aren't following the rules."

Face masks are mandatory in all shops under Government coronavirus guidelines, unless you have a valid reason for exemption.

Official Government advice says if you have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering you do not need written evidence of this and there is no requirement to have one in law.

Some supermarket chains say they won't let in shoppers without masks, but the Co-op said it was not asking staff to block access due to the threat of anti-social behaviour.

Instead the firm said it was offering free face masks to customers who turn up without them.

A spokesperson for the East of England Co-op, said: “It is our top priority to keep both our colleagues and customers safe and we are working hard to make sure all our customers are aware that wearing a face covering in our stores is compulsory, unless exempt.

“We are supporting our colleagues to adopt a proactive approach to encouraging and promoting the wearing of face coverings by our customers but only if they feel confident and safe to do so.

“Whilst the majority of our customers have been overwhelmingly considerate and supportive of our colleagues, who are working hard to keep everyone safe, there have been some incidents of anti-social behaviour towards our colleagues.

"We take this very seriously and it is one of the reasons we’re not asking our colleagues to prevent access to customers not wearing a mask.

"Instead we will offer a free disposable face covering and encourage its use.

“We are incredibly grateful and proud of our colleagues who have been providing a vital service to our communities throughout the pandemic, and are committed to being a Covid secure business.”