Parents slam Tesco for selling micro school skirts for girls of 9

London, Aug 6 (ANI): British retail chain Tesco has been slammed by parents and child experts for selling micro school skirts for girls as young as nine.

The tiny garment called a Hitch and Stitch is just 29.5cm long - less than 1ft, and a third shorter than normal school skirts, and parts of it are hitched up and stitched in place to keep the hemline high.

Outraged parents and child experts say the design "overly sexualises" girls.

"It looks like it should be sold in a sex shop," the Sun quoted Siobhan Freegard, of parenting website Netmums, as saying.

Child protection expert Shy Keenan said the 8 pounds skirts could "invite very unwelcome attention".

"It's sick to say they're acceptable for kids," mum Madalyn Bielfeld, who spotted them in Tesco near Borehamwood, Herts, added.

Asda's skirts for nine-year-olds start at 41.5cm long, while Sainsbury's start at 40cm.

"Ultimately it's for parents to decide what is appropriate for their child," a Tesco spokesman said. (ANI)