A SUPERMARKET has been criticised for banning children under the age of 16 to enter during the evening without an adult.

Morrisons in Harwood says it introduced the rule due to anti-social behaviour in its store.

However, after his 13-year-old son Mackenzie was denied entry to the supermarket on Thursday, Bolton dad Asif Vali hit out at the store for 'discriminating' against youngsters.

The youngster had walked to the store with a group of friends after playing football at Bolton St Catherine's Academy.

But as the group approached the store, a security guard confronted them and said they would not be allowed to enter, citing the store's policy.

Mr Vali, who used to manage Bolton boxer Amir Khan, said: "They said there was a policy in place that any child under the age of 16 is not allowed into the store after 6pm because of issues they have experienced.

“He was trying to walk through and the security guard stopped him and pushed him."

After learning of what had happened, Mr Vali went down to the store himself to speak to the manager.

“I spoke to the manager and she said they can do what they want and they if they do not want to let people in, they do not have to.

"I cannot understand why they would refuse entry to anyone under 16. If someone is coming into the store to purchase something you cannot do that.

“They are a PLC, they have to publicise anything like that.

“Groups of girls were being allowed in. They are discriminating against young people, especially lads."

The store has experienced trouble with anti-social behaviour in recent years, caused by large groups reportedly hanging about outside the store.

Last October, residents reported a group of youths chasing each other in the store’s car park, with some being seen smashing bottles on the ground. There were even reports that a brawl broke out.

Earlier in 2017, police in Harwood urged parents to make sure they knew where their children were as a result of anti-social behaviour.

Officers were concerned about large groups of teenagers outside Morrisons and also in the park.

A spokesman for Morrisons said police have made people in the area aware of the rule by giving talks in schools and leafleting houses.

He added: "We do not tolerate anti-social behaviour in our stores — this rule was brought in around two years ago on the advice of the police and the local council."