IF you go down to Tesco in Tiverton today unsuitably dressed, you’ll be in for a big surprise.

The supermarket has introduced a dress code as a health precaution after the recent hot spell saw shoppers stroll into the store ‘half-naked’.

Scantily-clad women and men baring their bellies have been banned, as have shoppers not wearing shoes, and a customer dress code policy was displayed in the store’s window.

The notice said: “To avoid causing offence or embarrassment to others, as well as for health and safety reasons, we ask that customers are appropriately dressed when visiting our stores.

“Shirts, tops and shoes must be worn at alltimes.”

A signhas also beenplaced inthe window of the filling station at Blundell’s Road, which also bans customers not wearing shoes.

The dress code was imposed after complaints about ‘half-naked’ men and women stocking up on alcohol and barbecue goods.

Supermarket bosses said bare torsos could pose a health risk as shoppers could drip sweat on food.

A Tesco spokesman told The Star: “As we see glimpses of the summer weather, we’ve decided that it’s sensible to ask customers to wearT-shirts and footwear in store.

“We don’t want them to tread on anything sharp and we want all of our customers to feel comfortable while shopping.

“Our store managers use their common sense and make these decisions on a store-by-store basis.”

One customer said he would not be offended or embarrassed when seeing a shirtless shopper but said he was concerned about people sweating over food.

Tesco has launched similar crackdowns inthe past, banning customers in Cardiff from wearing pyjamas.