One supermarket in Elmers End has got an extra but unwelcome touch of Christmas this year with a red-breasted lodger taking up residence.

A News Shopper reader sent in this photo of a robin which, according to him, has been trapped in the store for over two weeks as staff have been unsuccessful in their attempts to release it.

The reader, who did not wish to be named, said he saw the bird on top of the crisps section.

The reader said he was not only concerned for health and safety reasons, but also for the wellbeing of the animal.

A spokesman for Tesco said: "We have the highest standards of hygiene in our stores, so we are currently working with experts to help release the bird outside as quickly as possible."

The spokesman also said it was "working to capture the bird alive" using traps and nets.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, all birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and it is thus an offence to kill or injure them.

However, a wild bird may be killed under an exception if a person can show, subject to a number of specific conditions, that their action was necessary to preserve public health or air safety, or prevent spread of disease.