CUSTOMERS in a busy town centre store were being told in October 2012 – ‘if you’re on your mobile you won’t be served’.

A notice politely informs anyone having a natter over the phone that staff will ignore them and serve the next person in the queue.

The County Gazette reported 11 years ago that the ban at County Stores, Taunton, was the idea of counter assistants Sharon Kidd and Sarah Holley, who were fed up with having to wait for customers to hang up.

Sharon said: “Quite simply, if someone’s on their phone we’ll serve the next person.

“It’s happening increasingly, and as we’re selling Lotto tickets the queue can get quite long.

“We had some people coming up to us on the phone, not paying attention to what we were asking them and holding up the queue.”

Sharon said the policy had generally been well received, but she has heard the odd grumble and one young customer stormed out shouting ‘stuff you’.

READ MORE: 186-year-old family business announcs it's closing.

She said: “We’ve had plenty of positive comments, and the majority of customers on their phone apologise and stop the call.

“People say it’s a good idea because it’s rude being on your phone and holding up the queue.”

County Stores owner Hugh Duder backed the rule, saying: “It’s disrespectful to be on the phone when you want to get served, and the counter assistants shouldn’t have to put up with it.”

Six years later, in October 2018, it was announced that County Stores, one of Taunton's oldest family businesses would be closing within months after 186 years due to the 'high street crisis'.