ANIMAL welfare protestors are to appeal to shoppers at a supermarket chain today, as they call for an end to factory farming of pigs.

Viva volunteers will be outside Tesco stores in Chester-le-Street, Durham, Consett and Gateshead, and will hand leaflets and posters to passers-by.

The group said it hoped to persuade the supermarket chain to change its policy on factory farming of pigs.

The group will be outside Tesco's Durham store, on the Dragonville Industrial Estate, between 9am and 10am, and at the Chester-le-Street store between 10.45am and 11.45am.

North-East Viva campaigner Diane Sanderson said: "We will have free information on hand for people interested in changing their diet to a cruelty-free one.

"By going veggie, people are being kind to the animals, people and the planet."

Tesco, however, said it has one of the best animal welfare records on the industry.

A spokeswoman said: "All farms supplying Tesco are audited by an independent farm-assurance scheme, as well as spot-check audits by an independent auditing company.

"We have an agricultural team dedicated to raising animal welfare standards within the industry, working with the assurance schemes, and commissioning research projects for environmentally and welfare-conscious production systems.