ANGER IN HORNSEA AFTER LINCOLN THE ‘TESCO CAT’ IS BANNED FROM STORE

A friendly feline who has become a regular visitor to a Tesco store has been banned because of “health and safety” concerns.

Lincoln, known as the Tesco Cat, has been hanging out in the foyer of the Hornsea store for three years and has become a furry favourite with shoppers.

Customers have threatened to boycott the store unless the “much-loved” pet is allowed back in.

Tesco said staff would “gently encourage” Lincoln to leave the store.

Lincoln frequents the store most days and is usually found sitting on bags of compost or boxes of screen wash in the foyer area.

Despite the fact he’s been a huge hit with staff and shoppers, who stop to fuss him or take pictures, store chiefs have now banned him from coming in.

His owner Lorraine Clarke said she was “sad” he had been banned because he brought “a lot of joy to people”.

“We get people messaging us saying they might be anxious when they go outdoors, or they find shopping anxious and seeing Lincoln helps with things like that.”

She added: “It’s like he seems to know he’s making people feel happy or it cheers people up.”

The ban has been met with anger from some shoppers who have threatened to boycott the store unless the decision is reversed.

One shopper told the BBC: “This will be my last visit to Tesco if Lincoln isn’t reinstated.

“They won’t be getting another penny out of me. He just brightens your day when you see him. He’s just so lovely, so affectionate.”

Another shopper said: “It’s ridiculous, how can you ban a cat? He’s still going to go. He’s not harming anybody, he just sits there. The kids love him, the elderly love him. Everybody just loves him.”

In a statement, Tesco said it appreciated Lincoln was “somewhat of a local celebrity” who colleagues and customers liked to see in the store.

It added: “However for health and safety reasons, if he makes his way inside our colleagues will gently encourage him out again.”

Since achieving celebrity status, Mrs Clarke said Lincoln had become somewhat of a “diva at home” and even stars in his own charity fundraising calendar.

She said despite Tesco’s efforts to ban him, she couldn’t promise the ginger and white Tom would stay away.

“I can’t say to Lincoln, ‘I’m sorry son you’re not allowed to Tesco today’, he will go wherever he wants to go. If he’s sat in there, he’s not doing anyone any harm.”