A REDDITCH post-op transsexual claims she was treated like a "third-class citizen" when she visited Debenhams store in Redditch to be fitted for a bra.

Yvonne Rhodes, of Crabbs Cross, was already recognised as female on her passport and medical records but recently underwent a sex change operation and also paid for breast implants.

When she visited the Debenhams store last week, she said she was treated in a "disgusting" manner.

She and her partner Sue went into the ladies' changing room to wait for an assistant to measure Yvonne for a bra but, when a member of staff did arrive, she asked Yvonne to come with her to a different changing room.

Yvonne said: "It was more of a storage room than a changing room. Sue and I were waiting in there for quite a while before an assistant came in.

"I asked her what the problem was and she said I'd had to move changing rooms in case I had disturbed any women in the proper ones.

"She also asked if I had already had my operation - something I felt was none of her business."

The sales assistant called over a more senior member of staff but then continually referred to Yvonne, as "he", "him" and "the gentleman", despite being corrected.

Yvonne said: "The way I was treated was disgusting. Some say women are treated as second-class citizens but I was treated as third-class.

"It was such an upsetting experience. I would not have expected to be treated like that in somewhere like Debenhams."

A Debenhams spokesman said: "It was not our intention to treat the lady in a discriminatory way and we apologise for any upset that was caused."