A London North Eastern Railway (LNER) employee faced criticism after wearing a large mascot costume amid a heatwave in York. The staff member donned the 7-foot-tall Eleanor mascot, complete with its characteristic frizzy red hair, on a day when temperatures reached 31 degrees Celsius in the city.

The appearance took place on Wednesday as part of a marketing campaign by LNER. The costume, made of thick woolly material, sparked backlash from passengers who expressed concern about the worker’s welfare in the hot weather. One passenger, Marcus Newbrook, questioned the decision, saying it was inappropriate to require someone to wear such attire in the heat. Other observers described the situation as “mean,” noting that the internal temperature inside the suit could be significantly higher than the ambient temperature.

In response to the criticism, LNER stated that the employee in the Eleanor costume was given frequent breaks and had access to hydration. The company emphasized that the team responsible for the mascot was monitoring the worker’s condition throughout the event to ensure their safety and well-being.

The incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by companies deploying promotional characters during periods of high temperature, balancing visibility with employee comfort. At present, no further measures or changes to the campaign have been announced by LNER.