London, Aug 6 (IANS) Parents in Britain have criticised retail chain Tesco for selling a school skirt that is less than 30 cm long and a third shorter than normal school skirts.

The school skirt called a Hitch and Stitch is barely 29.5 cm and parts of it are hitched up and stitched in place to keep the hemline high.

Parents observed that the skirts ‘overly sexualises’ girls.

The Sun quoted Siobhan Freegard, of parenting website Netmums, as saying: ‘It looks like it should be sold in a sex shop.’

Shy Keenan, a child protection expert, said that the skirts, priced at 8 pounds, could ‘invite very unwelcome attention’.

A Tesco spokesperson said: ‘Ultimately it’s for parents to decide what is appropriate for their child.’