A CUSTOMER was refused a cup of coffee at Starbucks because she was riding a moped has won an apology and a free beverage from the high street giant.

Angela Rowledge, 40, of Brancepeth Road, Ferryhill, calls in at the Starbucks at Thinford, Spennymoor, at least three times a week.

Heading home from work in Durham at 5.20pm on Monday, November 17, she called at the Thinford drive-through site for two coffees on her 125 Honda moped.

Staff told her that she could not buy the drinks for herself and her partner Rebecca Taylor as she was on a two wheeled vehicle.

Miss Rowledge said: “I sat for ten minutes at the Starbucks and no-one took my order. I found a staff member and asked for two cappuccinos.

“He said 'I can’t serve you as you’re a bike with two wheels'. I said 'you must be joking' but he said I’d have to go into the cafe area.

“He said that it was Starbucks policy as he said they were not insured for motorbikes or scooters. I have a holder on my bike which carries the coffee.

“No-one has said this to me before and I think it’s disgusting and I was angry and I haven’t been back.”

A Starbucks spokeswoman said: “We’d like to apologise to the customer who was not served at our Thinford roundabout store and invite her back to the store for a coffee on us.”