A YORK city centre store reopened today with customers being told they must cover their faces - as a York MP called for masks to be mandatory in all shops.

The Disney Store in Parliament Street has signs saying: ‘A face covering is required on entry into this store.’

It adds: "Please contact a cast member for further information."

The Press has asked Disney whether customers will be refused entry if they aren't covering their faces, and whether there are any exemptions, for example small children and people with asthma.

The move comes as York Central MP Rachael Maskell has backed calls by the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, for face covering to be mandatory in shops.

She said: "We are in the midst of a serious pandemic and every step necessary to keep the public and shop workers safe must be adhered to.

"While the infection risk remains high across the UK, I support the wearing of masks.

"This may be a short term inconvenience but could prevent a second peak, not least if rigorous hygiene and social distancing is adhered to."

The Mayor has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to say they should be worn at every shop in London to help prevent a second wave of the coronavirus.

He said: “It is increasingly clear that face coverings will play a key role in our efforts to stop the further spread of the virus and they need to become a more regular part of our day-to-day life.

“The high level of use on our public transport network has again shown that Londoners are willing to act to protect their community, but the Government’s current rules are lagging behind other countries.

“With non-essential shops now opening and the public returning to our high streets, I urge the Government to follow World Health Organisation guidance and make these coverings mandatory for those shopping in retail outlets and in other spaces where it impossible to keep a safe distance.”

Andrew Opie, Director of Food & Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said:“Retailers do not require customers to wear face coverings in-store.

"Government guidance states that people should 'wear a face covering in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible, and they come into contact with others that they do not normally meet.'

"Shops can only open if they enforce social distancing measures, which has been the case for thousands of stores who have stayed open.”

A spokesman for York's Coppergate Centre said all its stores were operating under strict health and safety guidelines as laid out by the Government and the British Retail Consortium, which at this time did not insist that all shoppers wear masks.

*What do readers think? Should face covering be mandatory in all shops? Give us your views.