SAINSBURY’S has done a U-turn after banning school pupils taking bags into its Didcot store amid fears about shoplifting.

The firm had told Didcot Girls’ School and St Birinus School students to leave their bags at a security desk.

But after protests and a meeting with school representatives it has scrapped the three-week-old policy at its Orchard Centre store.

Girls’ school headteacher Rachael Warwick said: “The store had some statistics showing that packets of chewing gum were going missing, and there was anecdotal evidence that some pupils were putting sweets in their bags.

“But Sainsbury’s was using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

“I had a lot of feedback from parents and members of staff who decided not to use the store for the duration of the ban.”

Pupil Margaret Lingas, 16, pictured, said: “I and a number of other students were quite hurt and insulted by the policy.

“We saw it as blatant discrimination.”

St Birinus headteacher Alwyn Richards said: "The process seemed very heavy-handed and seemed to tar all young people with the same brush.”

Store manager Kevin Rowse said: “We were reassured by what we heard from the school council representatives at the meeting, so we were happy to reverse the decision.”