YESTERDAY I wrote an opinion column voicing my concerns about people flouting face mask rules in shops.

It followed this week’s announcement from Morrisons that customers who refuse to wear a mask without a valid medical reason will be told to leave stores.

Publication of the editorial in print and online has led to some misinterpretation of the points I was trying to make. The people I was referring to in my column are those who refuse to wear a face mask for reasons that are not to do with physical or mental health, or disability.

The people I take issue with are those who have decided the mandate doesn’t apply to them. I was making the point that this shows a lack of respect for shop staff and the majority of customers who do comply with the rules and wear a mask.

In no way at all did I intend to cause any offence to those who have a legitimate reason for exemption. There are of course valid medical reasons for not wearing a mask, and this is something I should have addressed.

But I wrote the column from a sense of frustration at people who have no such reason not to wear a mask. There have been many occasions when retail staff have been subjected to abuse and intimidation from some of these customers - there is plenty of filmed evidence of this - and it is a great concern for many people. Several people have written to this newspaper to express these concerns.

It has clearly become a concern for supermarkets too, as they are now taking tougher measures to enforce the face mask legislation.

The wearing of face masks has become a very divisive issue. It doesn’t help that the legislation concerning what constitutes an exemption and what doesn’t seems quite ambiguous. These rules have been drawn up in haste and it is being left largely up to retailers to police them.

According to Government guidance, circumstances where people may not be able to wear a face covering include:

l People who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress;

l If you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate.

The guidance says: “If you have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering you do not routinely need to show any written evidence of this or show an exemption card.”

The advice continues: “Carrying an exemption card or badge is a personal choice and is not required by law.”

Does this not leave the legislation open to abuse, and risk putting people with genuine reasons for not wearing a mask in a difficult position? Just as a Blue Badge shows that someone can legitimately park in a disabled parking space, an exemption badge shows that they have a valid reason for not wearing a face mask.

Without an exemption card, some people with medical reasons for not wearing a mask, particularly if it’s a ‘hidden disability’, may be refused entry to shops.

People who don’t wear a face covering simply because they don’t want to, with no valid reason, or to make a point, are not doing those who do have a legitimate reason any favours.

I feel sorry for shop staff who are left to try and police all this.

I fully accept that in yesterday’s column I should not have said there is no medical reason for someone not to wear a face mask and I do apologise if it caused any offence. It was written from a point of exasperation at people who flout the rules.

But at no point in that column did I mention anyone with a disability or anyone who has suffered trauma, anxiety or mental illness.

My mother had a disability, through illness, and for years had to use to a wheelchair. I have a relative who has severe autism.

I was a carer for many years and I have long been a supporter of various charities and other organisations that support people with disabilities.

It was absolutely not my intention for my column to cause any offence to people with disabilities or mental health issues. The column was addressing the issue of people not complying to the face mask mandate, with no valid reason, and whose defiant actions impact on many individuals and families - something which is of great concern to many people.