A mum has hit out after her child was collared at a store for not wearing a face mask.
The unnamed mum says she was left "fuming" after her 12-year-old son was questioned by an older woman at a supermarket.
The row happened at a supermarket in Holmewood, Chesterfield, on Tuesday night, when a woman saw the boy without a mask, DerbyshireLive reports.
The mum said her 11-year-old daughter was also forced to buy a mask by shop workers at a petrol station this week.
She said: "I’m not very happy that my son was questioned outside a shop in Holmewood this evening for not wearing a mask by an older lady who was wearing a mask that wasn’t even covering her nose.
"He is 12 years old and it’s his choice not to wear one. I’m glad he had the confidence to say ‘how can you say anything when you're not wearing yours properly'.
"I don’t care if you want to wear one but do not take it upon yourself to make children feel uncomfortable when you have no idea why they haven’t got one on.
"My daughter was also forced to buy a mask from the garage yesterday. She doesn’t need one either."
Some mums were quick to defend the boy on social media.
One wrote: "I don't see where your child has been rude, good for him to have a voice!
"I understand why people are going mad but masks can attract bacteria when moist. So it can have adverse effects if not used properly.
"There's so many perfect 'know it alls', just leave each other alone.
"If you can't help each other, don't bother."
Other parents were critical. One wrote: "You're glad your small children have no respect for society or the elderly?"
The mum of the 12-year-old boy then replied: "We have our reasons for not wearing them and if you don’t like it then keep your mouths shut!
"Don’t make children feel uncomfortable when you're not adhering to the ‘guidelines’ yourself!
"Then maybe do some research into why you didn’t have to wear them last week but now you do and still having to stay two metres apart and stand in lines.
"Yet you don’t need one to go to the pub, restaurant, gym, cinema, museums and even swimming!"
Face coverings are compulsory in shops, but children under 11, and people with certain medical conditions, do not have to wear them.
