Construction workers have died on this site and now they are being barred from using the facilities

Chris Tiff, UCATT

The ban on wearing site clothing and muddy boots inside the shopping complex affects 7,500 workers.

Chris Tiff, regional organiser for the construction workers' union UCATT, told BBC News: "It seems to be a degree of snobbery within Canary Wharf.

"Construction workers have died on this site and now they are being barred from using the facilities.

"The construction workers here are working all hours and the facilities in Canary Wharf are very good and they want to participate in the shops."

'Common sense'

Canary Wharf Group plc, which runs the site, says it introduced the ban in order to maintain a clean and enjoyable shopping environment.

A Canary Wharf spokesperson said: "The policy is intended to benefit all those who use the retail areas.

"This policy is already widely adopted in many restaurants, bars and department stores."

Workers are being asked to use their "common sense" when coming off a building site in dirty clothes.

But retailer Paul Benjamin, who runs Bene Bene Eaterie, told BBC News the ban was bad for business.

"Nobody seems to mind. Most of these builders are husbands or boyfriends.

"They are all the same underneath."