A MIDDLE-aged nurse has hit out at the "ridiculous" stigma attached to hoodies after being refused her morning paper for wearing a lambs wool hooded cardigan.

Lorraine Robinson has vowed to boycott her York paper shop which she has been supporting for 40 years, saying the owner had unjustly tarred her with the same brush as yobs.

The 47-year-old has remained a regular at Monkton Road Stores since the new owners took over three years ago, and said she was insulted to be asked to remove her hood. It was covering her head because it was cold and had been raining.

But staff at Monkton Road Stores have defended their actions, saying "no hoods" notices were clearly posted around the shop, and were necessary because of on-going problems with troublemakers.

They also insisted the rules applied to everyone.

"It is crazy," said Lorraine, a health care assistant at York Hospital. "I could understand if I was a youth - I would want to see their face if they did anything wrong.

"But I am a nurse, nearly 50 and have been going to that shop since I was nine.

"I work with vulnerable people and have been police checked. I have never done anything wrong in my life."

Mrs Robinson, of Geldof Road, explained: "I was going in for my morning paper. I had a lambs wool cardigan on with a hood over my tunic. It cost me nearly £100.

"The owner said I am not serving you until you take your hood off'. He knows me. I was insulted. It is ridiculous. Not everyone who wears a hood is a yob. They are a fashion trend. But everyone is being tarred with the same brush.

"My husband took me to the paper shop near the hospital instead. People go in there with crash helmets on and balaclavas and get served."

A spokesman for Monkton Road Stores said notices have been in place asking people not to wear hoodies since the new owners took over.

"I am sorry she felt insulted," he said. "But there are notices on the front door and in the shop saying no hoods, no swearing'. She has been a regular customer and should be fully aware of that.

"We have had people come in a steal drinks out of the fridge and run off. We need to identify those who come in for CCTV purposes."

He said staff would be put in a difficult position if they had to decide who looked like a potential troublemaker, so the rule applied to all customers regardless of their age. "It is not just young people who cause problems," he said.