Customers were today urged to stop buying clothes from two York shops because of an advertising campaign which has been branded "obscene".

York resident Ian Small said he was offended by the Christmas shop window campaign being used by French Connection in its Coney Street branch.Posters in the windows bear the words "FCUK-XM@S".

He has called for shoppers to stay away from the shop and also from Sarah Coggles, in Low Petergate, York.

The owner of Sarah Coggles, Victoria Bage, is also owner of the franchise for French Connection.

Mr Small said: "The central French Connection organisation is certainly well aware of the aim of the campaign and is unwilling, like the York branch, to withdraw it.

"People of all faiths who object to the vilification of an important religious festival can show their displeasure by ceasing to buy goods at these two shops until the campaign is discontinued. I hope the franchisee will not lower York's standards even more when Muslim, Jewish and other religious festivals come round."

Mrs Bage said the window displays at French Connection were decided nationally.

She said: "We have always had unusual Christmas windows at our stores.

"I don't see why this is offensive and our customers don't seem to have been put off by this slogan."

Lilli Anderson, from French Connection UK, said: "We have been using the initials FCUK for two years and they are an abbreviated version of the name of our company.

"They are not meant to be offensive and we have only had a handful of complaints about our Christmas campaign."

Out on Coney Street, shoppers had mixed views about the window display.

Churchgoers Janet Dalziel and Helen Robertson from Dumfries, visiting York during a holiday in Scarborough, said they did find the advertising campaign offensive.

Janet said: "I hate that word and I when I hear it on TV I think it's terrible.

"You don't say something like that at Christmas."

York couple John and Annette Dean, from Knapton, said they would not have noticed the advert in the Coney Street window if it had not been pointed out by the Evening Press.

But when they did look at it, John said: "I think it's probably in bad taste and a bit unnecessary."

Mike Stapley, from Whitby, who had just bought two jumpers from French Connection, said: "I have no problem with the slogan at all.

"It's just a play on words and that's all we should see it for. It's working if it shocks you."

see COMMENT 'On the offensive'

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