Tesco apologises after Muslim checkout worker refused to sell customer ham and wine because it was Ramadan

• Mother-of-three tried to buy items during shopping trip in north London
• Employee said he couldn't sell them as he was fasting for religious festival
• The customer was instead forced to use the self-service checkouts
• She told worker he should be serving people not turning them away
• Firm apologises to customer but refuses to condemn worker's actions 

Tesco has issued an apology after a Muslim worker refused to sell a customer ham and wine because of Ramadan.

Mother-of-three Julie Cottle went into her local store to stock up, but was left stunned when a checkout employee insisted he couldn't serve her.

Muslims worldwide are currently fasting for Ramadan - the holy ninth month of the Islamic calendar where devotees abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.

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Tesco has apologised after Muslim worker at a Tesco Express store like that pictured refused to sell a customer ham and wine during the religious festival of Ramadan. File photo

Ms Cottle was forced to use the self-service checkout in the Tesco Express in Neasden, north-west London, after the worker reportedly 'walked off'.

She said: 'He pointed at the ham and wine in my basket and said "I can't serve you that because I'm fasting".

'When I told him he should be serving customers not turning them away he still refused telling me to go to the self-service. I was furious.'

In a statement, a spokesman for Tesco said: 'We don't have a specific policy and take a pragmatic approach if a colleague raises concerns about a job they have been asked to do.

'We apologise to our customer for any inconvenience on this occasion.'

The supermarket giant confirmed 'the colleague would be spoken to' but refused to say if any further action would be taken.