A Boxing Day sales queue ‘disturbance’ was not shoppers fighting each other to get bargains but a bust-up between a Next bouncer and a customer.

Kingston police posted a tongue-in-cheek tweet, including the hashtag “#letmeatthosebargains”.

But Tony Romero, 46, claims he was pushed by Next staff and then rudely told to leave by police officers after queuing since 5.30am.

The father-of-four said the row started when he was refused entry because he did not have a numbered bag given to waiting customers.

Syrian-born Mr Romero, who owns four dry cleaning businesses including two in Ewell Road and Brighton Road, Surbiton, said: “A guy was distributing numbered bags so they could tell how many people were in the shop but he didn’t say each person should have a bag.

“Me and my wife took one bag between us but when we got to the door they said my wife could go in but I couldn’t because I didn’t have a bag.

“I said I wasn’t having it but then this other guy came out and said: ‘You’re not coming in, mate,’ and he pushed me.”

He said he called the police who told him to move on.

Mr Romero said: “I would never treat my customers this way.

“I’ve been in this country for a long time, 24 years, and I’ve never been treated this way.”

A Next spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that an incident occurred involving a customer at our store in Market Place, Kingston, on Boxing Day and that the police were called as a precaution.

"As this has now been dealt with, we will not be making any further comment on the matter."