A woman who purchased - what appeared to be - a brand new microwave from Tesco was left horrified when she unboxed it and found it covered in rust.
Shirley Wallace had visited the Tesco store in Hanley, Staffordshire, on Saturday, December 17, to purchase a Russell Hobbs compact grey digital microwave for £70.
But when the NHS worker returned home and opened the box, she was shocked to find the appliance was dotted with dirt and rust inside.
Images showed the inside of the microwave, which appeared to be used, with a thin layer of rust gathered at the bottom towards the back.
A grubby mark can be seen below the turntable at the centre of the microwave.
Further signs of wear and tear could be seen by a noticeable chip and stains on the rear wall, giving the impression that the appliance had already been frequently used for quite some time.
Shirley took to social media on Monday, December 19, to complain to Tesco.
She wrote: "I am completely shocked that I brought this microwave oven from The Hanley Store on Saturday 17th December to get it home and take it out of the box to find this.
"Shocked is an understatement. How is this possible?"
The supermarket responded to her, saying: "We are very sorry that this has happened, sadly we would require that you return this to the store so this can be redressed to the suppliers and you can be reimbursed."
The shopper has since returned the appliance to the store where she received a replacement model free of any grime.
Tesco staff also apologised for the inconvenience.
Shirley added: "I was completely shocked that I had bought the microwave and took it out of the box to find it like this!
"Shocked is an understatement, I'm not sure how it was possible.
"I ended up taking it back to the store yesterday and the staff were very polite and helpful, they apologised for my inconvenience."
The Russel Hobbs Compact Grey Digital Microwave boasts "a compact design, ideal for kitchens with limited space".
The appliance is "simple and easy to use with its 700 watts of microwave power, providing you quick and convenient cooking in your home".
At other retailers, such as Argos, the product is currently being sold for £90.
