SWINDON is guilty of facial fascism. That is the claim laid down by Aimee Irving-Bell, who spent the entire summer being turned away from jobs because of her lip ring.

Aimee claims Swindon businesses are too narrow-minded and says the town will continue to lose out on city status if attitudes don't change.

The 20-year-old from Upper Stratton, and her boyfriend, Gareth Brookfield, 23, say they have faced discrimination due to their facial piercing.

After a four-month search at companies including The Body Shop, Ann Summers, Cineworld, PC World, Electronics Boutique (now Game) and The Gap, she has now landed a job at the Trinket Box in the Brunel Centre, which she started last Monday.

Aimee, who is studying marine biology at Swindon College, said: "Piercings have been around as long as man, and some piercings are acceptable now.

"My face is not full of metal and I think I always look neat and tidy, yet purely because I have a tiny piece of jewellery somewhere other than my ears I apparently can't do a job properly.

"It wouldn't bother me if it weren't for the fact that other piercings are considered to fine. Earrings are accepted everywhere and they create two holes.

"Even things like eyebrow and nose piercings are fine, just not lip ones."

Aimee feels people associate facial piercing with violence and insists she is not out to cause anyone harm.

She said: "We're not about to push little old ladies over in the street. People just don't understand and haven't caught up with the way things are now.

"One company said the lip ring gave me a speech impediment.

"That is hardly a politically correct reason to turn me down for a job."

Gareth has lived in Swindon for 14 years and now works at Kempsters Music Shop in Commercial Road after getting the sack from a Swindon bar last year because he wouldn't remove his piercings. "They could clearly see I had an earring in each ear, a nose ring and an eyebrow ring when I went for the interview," he said.

"Peroxide hair in varying states of growing out is okay, so are earrings as big as your head, and vast amounts of make-up and perfume. But facial piercings aren't.

"This town is in a constant struggle to attain city status and more recognition nationally. But lack of acceptance and telling people their image doesn't suit is hardly the way to encourage people to move here."