House of Fraser is now stocking range of sports hijabs for Muslim

The high street store has a number of the brightly covered head scarves on sale on their website. 

The hijab covers the head and chest and is worn by Muslim women after the onset of puberty as a sign of modesty in the presence of men who are outside their immediate family. 

It is different from the niqab, which is a full face veil and has proved divisive in schools and public life, for example if wearers are giving evidence in court.

There has been controversy over whether it is right for girls attending state schools to wear religious dress rather than the standard uniform and in jobs like nursing.

But the fact that a mainstream retailer is starting to stock a sport hijab is likely to be welcomed as a breakthrough by Muslim parents who have so far had to rely on specialist shops.

The hijabs, which are made by Shorso, come in floral, striped and plan black designs retail at £14.99. 

The item description reads: 'This patterned sports hijab is perfect for swimming and aerobics. 

'The light weight and durable fabric adjusts to your head size, allowing for a perfect fit every time.'

Because the sports hijab closely fits the head, it is less likely to get caught when a girl is playing sport. 

There have been several reports previously of Muslim girls sitting out of sports lessons in shcools because of a safety concern about wearing a normal veil. 

The hijab in sport has long been a contested issue. 

In 2014, the Qatar women's basketball team withdrew from the Asian Games in South Korea after they were forbidden from wearing the hijab during matches.

Regulations on sport uniforms in world basketball dictate that headger and hair accessories are both banned from the court.

In the same year, Fifa announced it was allowing the use of head scarves in matches for religious reasons. 

A spokesperson for House of Fraser told MailOnline: 'I can confirm that are we are now stocking the Shorso sportswear brand online at www.houseoffraser.co.uk. 

'As an international retailer that delivers to over 130 countries worldwide we offer a wide range of products to suit our diverse customer base.'

(dailymail.co.uk)