A FARMER is furious his eggs have effectively been banned from local Co-op stores.

Ian Lloyd, 60, who runs Leadgate Farm in Huxley, has farmed eggs for more than 40 years but for the last 15 months shoppers have been unable to buy his produce in local Co-op stores.

This means it is very difficult for people in neighbouring Tarporley to buy local eggs.

Mr Lloyd, who is county chairman of the National Farmers Union, had supplied the company's Kelsall and Tarporley outlets until he received a phone call last March explaining that he should stop all deliveries.

The Co-op is refusing to take the eggs as they have no bar code on the packaging, no best before date on the eggs and do not conform to the 'Lion' standard.

Shoppers currently look for the red lion logo stamped on eggs as an

assurance of quality.

But although Mr Lloyd, who has 15,000 laying hens, says he is not against the Lion standard in principle it would cost £3,000 for him to adhere to the scheme.

He said: 'We have been supplying these shops for 30 years, since before they were Co-op owned,

'My eggs are properly tested and I am checked out by DEFRA, trading standards and the health and safety people, all the information is on the packet.

'We can and do supply eggs 365 days a year. Our eggs are sold at numerous shops in the area including stores in Boughton, Hoole, Ashton Hayes, Willington, Kelsall, Utkinton, Bunbury, Tattenhall and Tarvin.

'Although I do supply a delicatessen in Tarporley, villagers there would have a hard time getting my eggs.'

Mr Lloyd also claims the stores he does supply have benefited financially from stocking his eggs.

'I don't think it's coincidence that all these shops' eggs sales have increased,' he added.