Electrician Stuart Panter walked into his local, the Royal Standard, in Oxford, for a pint but before he could order a drink he was shown the door because he was wearing tracksuit trousers.

The new management at the pub, in London Road, Headington, placed a notice on the door last week warning customers that they should not wear hats, hooded tops, tracksuit bottoms or workwear. If they broke the rules, then they would be asked to leave.

That riled regular Stuart, 24, of Quarry Road, Headington, who has been drinking at the pub for six years, and some of his friends, who have also run foul of the ruling.

Now they have swopped their allegiance and drink in the nearby Britannia pub.

Mr Panter said: "I understand the need to tighten up on troublemakers and bar people from wearing hats or hoods because they can hide their faces.

"But to ban people because they're wearing workwear is a nonsense. Would the pub bar a doctor or solicitor?

"Two of my friends have also been barred, one for wearing a tracksuit and another who was wearing a hat. He said he would take it off, but that wasn't good enough and they were asked to leave.

"The original notice that went up made no mention of tracksuit bottoms. The management keep changing the notice. The Royal isn't a posh, upmarket pub, just an ordinary pub for ordinary people.

"The rules have upset a lot of former customers. I'm considering raising a petition and sending it to Greene King."

The new manager, Laura (she declined to give her surname), said: "Notices went up advising customers that from March 31 no headwear, hooded tops, tracksuit bottoms or workwear would be allowed.

"We're sorry that some people are upset, but they're welcome back, providing they abide by the dress code.

Greene King area manager Gavin Mansfield said: "We don't think it's unreasonable to ask customers not to wear soiled work wear in an area where people are eating and drinking.

"So far we have had very positive feedback about the decision."