The Co-operative store on Westmorland Close, Macclesfield, banned all Fallibroome Academy students from entering its premises between 7am and 5pm.

A notice went up on the store’s front window last Thursday (December 12) notifying students of the ban.

The store’s staff said the exclusion of pupils has been agreed after talks with local police and school staff, and is allegedly the result of students stealing from the shop.

But one mum says she is ‘disgusted’ after her two girls were banned despite having done nothing wrong.

Sara-Jayne Rainbow lives on Eaglais Way, Upton Priory, just around the corner from the shop.

She said: “I have two daughters who are in year nine and they go to the shop for me almost every day. Apparently a few kids have been stealing at lunchtime, but that does not mean that everyone has to lose out, does it?

“Upton Priory is a big estate and the shop is going to lose a lot of money.

“My kids don’t steal. Why are they been punished for the actions of a few bad students. I think it’s a disgrace.” A worker from the store said that they are assessing the options, but for now the ban will remain in place.

Robert Jackson, store supervisor, said: “Some kids have been coming in and filling their bags with products.

“One of them has their bag on their back and their friend fills it with stuff. I don’t know how long the ban will stay in place, but we have been in touch with the school and that has been agreed so far. It might change.

“It’s one group ruining it for everyone else.”

The school said it was working with the store to identify pupils who had forced it to take action.

Stuart Smalley, assistant principal of pastoral care at the academy, said: “We are working with the Co-operative and the police to identify the small minority of individuals causing concern in the shop.

“It is unfortunate that the wider student population is affected, but we understand the Co-op is entitled to take whatever measures it sees fit under such circumstances.”