A major retailer has apologised after a staff member allegedly threatened to call the police because buskers were playing on a popular spot outside its new High Street store.
The White Company said sorry following the apparent altercation between the female employee and a street performer as it prepared to open its doors in Exeter for the first time.
The incident on November 18 reportedly saw the woman demand the busker to "move" from outside the previously disused retail unit between Urban Outfitters and Burton.
She then apparently told another staff member to "call the police" before a male employee also asked the entertainers to leave.
The retailer said in a statement: "We would like to apologise for any offence caused during the set up of our new Exeter store.
"We are sorry to hear that under pressure, a member of our staff has acted out of White Company character. Building strong relationships with our local communities is very important to us."
The alleged outburst prompted criticism of the retailer as well as a string of support for buskers.
Ghee Bowman, of the Exeter Woodcraft Folk, wrote on Facebook: "Thanks for the apology, White Company. I know a few folk were getting worried that you had been rather rude to one of our much-loved local buskers. The music on our High St is just as important as the posh shops."
Heather Sheppard wrote on Facebook: "Good! Exeter loves its buskers, and we don't take kindly to jumped up new shops ordering our beloved musicians to leave perfectly legitimate busking spots!"
But others, speaking to the Echo in the city centre, defended the actions of the store.
Big Issue seller Chris Jones said: "I can totally understand why the proprietors might find it upsetting. It could affect the aesthetics of the store, it could seen as quite intimidating and noisy, as well as making the store less accessible because of the crowds they attract."
"There are better and more considerate places for people to set-up on the High Street. They don't have to go outside a new store that in its infancy period"
Busker Paul Scofield added: "People react differently to buskers. If you are told to move on, there is always somewhere else to play."
The luxury clothing retailer unveiled its new store on Wednesday November 20 after restoring the former Curry's building in the city centre.
The store has a trading space of 4,600 square feet, making it the brand's third largest shopping destination behind stores in London and Edinburgh.
It is one of eight new stores opened for the brand between September and November 2013, in line with The White Company's significant expansion strategy to mark its 20th anniversary.
