THREE Irish lorry drivers were amazed when the staff at the Argos store in Crewe refused to accept their money claiming Northern Ireland was not part of the United Kingdom.

The truckers were Christmas shopping at the Market Centre store last week when they were told their Northern Ireland sterling £20 notes were not acceptable.

The men, from County Down and Donegal, who visit Crewe twice a week to deliver and pick up cargoes, were left fuming after spending an hour picking out presents for their families.

One of them Stuart McDonald, 31, said: 'I queued up for an hour to get to the desk and the cashier refused to take the money. She said she couldn't take it because she didn't have anything to match it to.'

A sales support manager came and looked at the notes and tore one to 'check the validity' but refused to take the currency.

Mr McDonald added: 'I explained to the manager it was sterling. She said she was not taking it because Northern Ireland isn't part of the UK.

'She ripped one of the notes almost in half and threw it back at us saying it wasn't legal tender.'

Stuart's father Danny Mc-Donald, 51, was also there along with fellow driver Eamon Thomas. Mr McDonald Senior said: 'It's pure ignorance.

'We were buying all the kids' presents. We had been shopping in other shops in Crewe and nobody had a problem with accepting Northern Ireland notes.

'It was quite embarrassing in front of a queue of people being told they won't accept your money.'

An Argos spokeswoman admitted it was a mistake. She told the Chronicle: 'Argos accepts Sterling currency in all its UK stores and Euro currency in some selected stores sited near ports or airports.

'All our staff are trained in the relevant procedures for handling currency and we will reinforce these instructions in the light of this event.'