A CHILDREN’S top showing a Disney character apparently making a rude gesture has caused controversy across the UK – but in Swindon it is flying off the shelves.

Parents in parts of the country have hit out at retailer H&M’s T-shirts featuring Elsa, the main character from the blockbuster movie Frozen arguing it was inappropriate.

They claim that the £9.99 tops show the heroine making a V-sign, and many have called for the chain to pull the T-shirts because they say their children are copying the pose.

But in Swindon, the clothing has been hugely popular and sold like hotcakes the minute it hit the town centre store, according to H&M employees.

And parents have seen no harm in Elsa’s hand gesture.

“I don’t have a problem with it at all,” said Rosemarie Orwin, of Old Town. “I would not have any problems with my grandchild wearing it.”

The Disney character features on millions of items of merchandise, including clothes and stationery, and is supposed to be making snowflakes with her special powers.

Tom Watts, 17, of North Swindon added: “Kids would not look at the shirt and see that. They are just going to see the princess. Everything can be offensive if you look into it.” Kirsten Spratt, 17,of North Swindon said: “I would not see it as offensive. I don’t think my sister would see it like that either. She wouldn’t notice anything.”

It seems H&M is in agreement with Swindonians and is refusing to remove the top from shelves.

A spokesman said: “This is the first we have heard about this T-shirt upsetting anyone.

“It is a shame if it has caused offence. Clearly the character is holding her hand in that way in order to create a sparkly snowflake.”

Frozen, based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Snow Queen, overtook Toy Story 3 to become the highest grossing animated film of all time, raking in £644.5m at the box office. It was in the UK box office top 10 for more than three months and ranks as the 10th highest grossing film in cinema history.