DESPERATE youngsters looking for full time jobs are being misled into helping set up a Bromley dress shop where they work for free before being told "thanks but no thanks".

That is the claim of Sue Lilley, of Bickley Crescent, whose 17-year-old daughter Jessica spent three hours training in The Glades' Red Dress shop hoping to land her ideal job.

Jessica told her mum that she and two other girls were shouted at, left alone in the shop and made to perform menial tasks such as unpacking boxes and arranging clothes in order of light to dark.

However, she claims they were then told they were not experienced enough for the part-time position.

The Bromley mum said: "I know my daughter is better off not working for someone who takes advantage of her employees like the manageress of Red Dress.

"She was really nasty and rude.

"It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth knowing she has to go through processes like today to get a part time job."

According to Miss Lilley her daughter is one of a number of girls invited to the Red Dress store - which opened on August 4 - for training each afternoon before being told they are not good enough.

Miss Lilley says that after ringing The Glades to complain about her daughter's treatment, the shop window advert was taken down before returning just a day later.

She added: "When they say 'training' it intimates that is a job."

The Glades' general manager Howard Oldstein said: "I can confirm we received a complaint via email from a member of the public about the recruitment process of one of our retailers.

"We have since spoken to the retailer concerned and brought the matter to the attention of their head office which is investigating the complaint."

But Red Dress store creative director Bao Bei believes the problem lies with the attitude of the prospective employees.

He said: "We did explain that the first two hours were unpaid and they verbally agreed to this.

"But I think some girls are making mountains out of mole hills.

"It is an attitude thing. You can see from the start whether they are interested or not."

At the time of going to press, Red Dress had recruited four new staff filling all the available positions.