Leading clothes retailer Boden has denied any association between the design of one of its T-shirts and the flag of the British Union of Fascists.

Customer Jill Terezanski, who is Jewish, complained to the company that a striped red and white boy’s T-shirt featuring a blue lightning bolt bore a resemblance to the logo of the far-right group founded by Oswald Mosley in 1932.

Mrs Terezanski, 62, was “horrified” when she spotted the T-shirt while shopping online for her granddaughter.

“I grew up in the ‘60s and that image was everywhere. I couldn’t believe it was on a T-Shirt for children.

“I wouldn’t want my children dressed in that. The design on the top is very similar to their logo.

After Mrs Terezanski complained, she was contacted by Boden’s customer service manager Angela Lau-McKenzie who pointed out that the T-shirt lightning flash was different in colour, angle and design from the BUF symbol, and that the company did not believe the two designs would be confused.

“I can assure you that there was absolutely no intention to cause any association or offence,” she said.

Mrs Terezanski said: “I’m sure they didn’t mean to offend but I don’t think it is appropriate that this T-Shirt is available to children.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Boden said: “We have been contacted by Jill Terezanski. We are concerned that she thought this design referenced a fascist flag. She is the only customer who has expressed this concern. This T-shirt was designed for young boys in the "Super Hero” genre and there is absolutely no association. We take very seriously any concerns raised by our customers and are in direct contact with Ms Terezanski.”