Supermarkets scoop animal welfare awards

Two high street supermarkets have scooped awards for their efforts in improving animal welfare standards.

Upmarket grocer and retailer Marks & Spencer was named Compassionate Supermarket 2007 by Compassion in World Farming (CIWU) at a ceremony in London.

The animal welfare charity recognised M&S for raising standards, having only sold free-range eggs for the last ten years and recently stopping the sale of imported white veal.

Sainsbury has won the Best Volume Retailer and Most Improved Supermarket awards.

CIWU said, in a statement, that although progress has been made in the fight to improve animal welfare standards, there is still a "long way to go".