A Boots store in Belfast city centre has asked its staff not to wear a union jack-style promotional t-shirts after complaints from a West Belfast shopper.

The West Belfast man made his complaint after seeing a member of staff wearing the t-shirt at the firm's flagship Donegall Place store.

Seán Reynolds said he made a complaint to a manager about the t-shirt, but did not feel it was taken seriously.

“I was in Boots to get my lunch and buy a bottle of after-shave,” he told the Andersonstown News. 

“I was planning to spend around £40, but when I saw that t-shirt I didn't buy anything.

"To be fair, it was blue and grey, there was no red on it, but it was still basically a union jack. 

“I decided to make a complaint because in this day and age people are entitled to work in a neutral environment and this is just a blatantly sectarian symbol.

“I'm an easy-going fella, but I did find it offensive – and I'm only a customer. 

“Who knows what it's like for the staff? In my own work we're always told we can't wear any kind of sectarian symbols, so why should Boots be any different?” he asked.

Seán added that when he spoke to a manager she told him the t-shirt was part of an advertising campaign.

 A senior member of staff at the store said the t-shirts were part of an advertising campaign for the Dunhill designer range of men's fragrances.

“We value comments from all of our customers, but we are not in the business of causing offence, and as such we have asked the girls to change the t-shirts,” he added.