by Sarah Shaffi
sshaffi@thekmgroup.co.uk

A widow whose husband served in the Armed Forces was shocked to be told she could not sell poppies outside a supermarket.

Barbara Watson, a 63-year-old Royal British Legion volunteer, contacted Tesco in Gillingham on Monday to ask if she could stand outside the shop and sell poppies.

The grandmother-of-ten was stunned when a staff member told her it was impossible because of refurbishments - even though no work is going on around the entrance, which is still in use by customers.

But, after being contacted by the Medway Messenger, Tesco said it had made a mistake and has reversed its position.

Mrs Watson - whose late husband Herbert served in Ireland, Cyrpus and Borneo - said: "I think it's totally out of order.

"I wasn't in the way and I didn't want to get in the way.
There is no refitting going on outside the front of the store whatsoever.

"Obviously they have got customers coming in and out of the store, so it's not a health and safety issue if I stand there.

"I think it's unacceptable."

This is the first year Mrs Watson has volunteered to help out during the Poppy Appeal at the store, in Courteney Road.

She is planning to sell poppies in a number of locations across Rainham.

The mother-of-two, who lives in Danson Way, Rainham, said: “I wanted to do something for the Royal British Legion, so I thought I'd ask Tesco if I could sell there.

"The woman I spoke to on the phone said I couldn't stand outside. If she had offered me the chance to stand in the foyer I would have taken that, but she didn't.

"One person standing outside shouldn't be a major issue."

A Tesco spokesman said: "We are undergoing some building work but there seems to have been some confusion.

"We would be more than happy to have Mrs Watson collect outside the store."

Tesco contacted Mrs Watson and has arranged for her to collect on behalf of the Royal British Legion on Friday.