A retired fireman who always uses his own bags while shopping claims he's been made to feel like a criminal by staff at his local store.
Paul Jones, from Llandudno, has had an aversion to the baskets and trolleys provided for customers since the start of the pandemic.
However, the 66-year-old asthma sufferer - who claims to feel particularly vulnerable to Covid - said staff at his local branch of Home Bargains took exception to this when he popped in on Sunday afternoon to pick up cough medicine.
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He claimed to have been confronted by two separate staff members who informed him he had to use the store's shopping baskets while picking up his essentials.
"I was approached and told I couldn't put things in my bag for life and that I had to use a basket," said Paul, adding that no other store has previously had any issues with him using his own bags.
"I said I disagreed with this policy and they got the manager.
"The manager kept on asking me to calm down, that I was being aggressive. Yes, I was shouting through my mask as I was upset, but I wasn't aggressive.
"I was made to feel like a criminal in front of all the other shoppers, and I thought it was very unfair."
"I'm asthmatic so I feel very vulnerable to Covid," he added.
"I don't want to use the shopping baskets and trolleys as I don't know who has sneezed at them, and who has handled the sanitisers.
"I just walk around with my bags for life and fill them with my shopping before going to the till. I'm no shoplifter."
Paul said he contacted Home Bargains headquarters in Liverpool for a response and was informed it was "company policy" to use baskets and trolleys.
Home Bargains was "unavailable for comment at this time", a spokesperson told North Wales Live.
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