PRIMARK says it is “really sorry” to hear about the experience of a Bradford customer who said she had found a beetle in an item of clothing bought from the fashion retailer.

Haleema Iqbal contacted the Telegraph & Argus to say she had found the insect in a £17 cardigan she purchased at the Primark in Broadway.

Ms Iqbal said she was “disgusted” at the discovery and unhappy at the way her complaint had been handled, especially the initial offer of what she called a “poxy £5 voucher”, although she said that had since been upped to a £50 voucher.

Primark said it had been in touch with Ms Iqbal directly and hoped she was satisfied with how the situation had been resolved. It added that there was “no way to establish how and when this could have happened” but that the company remained confident with the high standards and checks it has in place with suppliers.

A beetle found in a cardigan bought at Primark in BradfordA beetle found in a cardigan bought at Primark in Bradford (Image: UGC)

“I tried the cardigan on at home," said Ms Iqbal. “When I saw the beetle, it was inside the sleeve. It was disgusting.

“It was big,” she claimed. “I threw it on the floor and then flushed it down the toilet.

“I felt really scared and anxious about it.”

She said: “I complained to Primark about it and they apologised and came back to me with a £5 voucher.

“They didn’t seem concerned about what I had found.

“I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never had any problems with them before.

“They should have checked it before they put it out in the store.”

A beetle found in a cardigan bought at Primark in BradfordA beetle found in a cardigan bought at Primark in Bradford (Image: UGC)

After receiving a £5 voucher, she felt she had been “fobbed off” and asked to know Primark’s findings of the investigation.

In an email to Primark, Ms Iqbal wrote: “I’d like to know what happened with this investigation and what you have done about it so this does not happen to anyone again.

“I don’t need a poxy £5 voucher. A beetle was stuck on my arm when I tried this cardigan on and you think a £5 voucher is good customer relations.

“I would like to know the findings of this investigation.”

PrimarkPrimark (Image: PA)

After receiving Ms Iqbal’s email, Primark wrote back to apologise and say: “I can assure you we take the issue you have raised very seriously and would like an opportunity to investigate this matter further.”

Primark then sent another email to say the “the matter is being thoroughly investigated".

When approached by the T&A for an official statement, a Primark spokesperson said: “We’re really sorry to hear about the customer’s experience and that she was not happy with how her case was handled.

“We have been in touch with the customer directly and hope that she is satisfied with how this has been resolved.

“There is no way to establish how and when this could have happened, but we remain confident with the high standards and checks we have place with our suppliers.”

After the conclusion of the investigation, Ms Iqbal said: "I’m not sure how I feel as I haven’t really got an answer as to how the beetle got there in the first place. From a £5 voucher they have now offered me £50."