"Stocking Fellas" are on hand to help

Four helpers are now on hand throughout the day in the lingerie department of Marks & Spencer's Holmbush Centre superstore in Shoreham.

The Stocking Fellas started helping customers on Tuesday.

They will be in the store from now until Christmas Eve, offering advice on buying lingerie gifts to male shoppers who need it.

Karen Blackman, lingerie manager at the store, said: "The response from people has been absolutely fantastic. I think it is going to be at the weekend when it will be the biggest benefit."

Karen explained the helpers would be on offer to help men feel more confident about buying for their partner, or assist men who needed just a bit of friendly advice.

"It is a combination of both," she said. "It is for men who don't know what they are looking for, or those who need a bit of help with sizes and things."

The scheme was trialled in 12 of Marks & Spencer's stores last Christmas and was so successful it was extended to other sites.

Andy Ferguson, head of Christmas at the company, said: "We launched Stocking Fellas after research showed us that only a third of women were happy with the lingerie their partner bought them, so we thought we'd better give men a helping hand."