By Aline Nassif

aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk

Crystal Palace's opening game of the season led to animal rights campaigners having to cancel a planned protest outside a Tesco supermarket.

The protesters were planning to make their feelings known about the chain's failure to reject eggs and meat from "mistreated chickens".

But police put a stop to the protest outside a store in Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, as it clashed with the Eagles' game with Plymouth Argyle at nearby Selhurst Park.

Campaigners, who were planning to hand out leaflets to passers-by from 11am to 3pm, were advised to pick another day.

Police told organisers they were wary of the potential for a "clash" between fans and protesters.

Jan Yarker, who had organised the event on behalf of Giving Animals A Choice, said: "Of course we were all disappointed the protest was cancelled but we're hopefully going to put on the protest later in the year.

"The police told us it was for our own protection, so I'm not going to argue with that.

"It's a minor setback, but Croydon's residents deserve to know that Tesco is selling eggs and chicken meat that is the result of terrible cruelty.

"Organic hens have much better lives, even if they do end up being slaughtered."

The campaigners want Tesco to stop selling eggs from battery hens and improve conditions for their meat chickens.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: "We are actively promoting barn, free range and organic eggs by giving them more shelf space, and all our barn, free-range and organic eggs are Freedom Food approved.

"We have reduced the shelf space given to eggs from caged hens and have introduced clearer marking of eggs from caged hens on the front of pack.

"That said, we do serve a broad range of customers so we will continue to offer a range of standard eggs that are all clearly labelled so that shoppers can make an informed choice.

"We always listen to our customers and many of them tell us they are on a tight budget and rely on us to provide affordable good quality food."