DINERS at a supermarket coffee shop got a shock when staff were helping them out in their pyjamas.

Members of staff at the Harris + Hoole coffee shop, at the Ocetal Way Tesco Extra store, were taking part in a special fundraising event as part of Domestic Awareness Week.

Jo Heaven, business development manager at Swindon Women’s Aid, said there was a serious message behind a fun event.

“We always like to do things in a positive way and think about how we can help men and women and we thought, ‘what better way to end Domestic Awareness Week than with everyone in their pyjamas’?” she explained.

“The reason everyone was in pyjamas is all about making people aware that a lot of women come to us for help either in the middle of the night, or with only the clothes on their backs.”

She said families often seek refuge with the charity having fled an abusive home, leaving behind possessions in a bid to get help but that the fundraising effort was meant to be fun for participants.

“We wanted to say that there is a real need for nightwear,” she said.

“I have been walking around in my pyjamas and no one batted an eyelid. It’s amazing, the British ‘stiff upper lip’.”

However, she said the Black Friday sale at Tesco had helped with fundraising for those taking part.

“It was rather busy,” she said. “But that worked out in our favour as their were more people in the store.”

As well as staff members at the coffee shop, teams at the Crown at Stratton and the Harvester in Drove Road were also donning their night-time garb to raise money.

And Jo said their efforts had been typical of those shown throughout the week.

“It’s gone really, really well,” she said. “It’s been a busy week.”

l For more information on the work of Swindon Women’s Aid, call 01793 864984.