Gillian Drummond had bought the tin of Dulux cookie dough from the shop in Bellshill Road to paint her new flat in Watt Crescent, however before she could start work her mother advised she would need more paint so she took it back.

Gillian said: "I had my receipt so I took the tin back and explained that I required a bigger tin. They said they didn't have that colour in a bigger size so I went off to choose another colour."

As Gillian did this a member of staff opened the tin and discovered some of the paint had been used, covered with a plastic bag to stop it drying out and there was a note on top which read: "Nearly got away with it! We do this all the time x".

Gillian maintained it had nothing to do with her but was refused a refund.

She said: "When I bought the tin there was no indication to me that it had been opened previously. I just took it off the shelf, took it home and had honestly never used it when I returned it the next day.

"I understand the company has a policy of not refunding used items, but it seems to me that is exactly what they have done on a previous occasion.

"I don't like being made out to be a liar and while it was only £15, as a single mother who has just moved out a scatter flat, it's not money I can afford to throw away.

"After the depute manager refused me a refund I was told the case would be passed on to B&Q's customer service department in Ireland who would get back to me in 48 hours.

"After 48 hours I heard nothing so I gave them a call and was told the case was closed."

A spokesperson for B&Q said they would refund the cost of the paint as a gesture of goodwill.

She said: "We are sorry Ms Drummond felt it necessary to contact the Times & Speaker. B&Q has a generous 90-day refund policy in place for unopened items. As the paint returned by Ms Drummond had been opened the returns desk at the store were right not to provide a refund.

"As one of the largest retailers of paint in the country, we believe it unlikely that neither Ms Drummond nor our cashier noticed the paint was opened at the time of purchase, however, as Ms Drummond, is adamant that she did not open it, as a gesture of goodwill, we are happy to offer Ms Drummond a giftcard for the cost of the pot of paint."