In a letter to the animal charity Viva!, Asda's Chief Executive Allan Leighton has said that ostrich meat had been on sale in selected London branches but will now be withdrawn.

This victory for wild animals comes only days after Sainsbury's announced that they would no longer sell kangaroo meat in their stores following a three year Viva! campaign to stamp out 'exotic' meats in Britain.

Juliet Gellatley, director of Viva!, is delighted with Asda's decision: "I wrote to Mr Leighton only last week informing him of the plight of ostriches and I congratulate Asda for taking immediate action when faced with the facts. Despite claims that ostriches are domesticated they are still wild animals, with all the instincts of a bird which has evolved to be free. The ostrich industry is riddled with welfare problems - a higher proportion of these awesome birds die in UK farms than any other farmed animal".

Viva!'s 'exotic' meat campaign forced Tesco and Somerfield to stop selling kangaroo and ostrich meats in September 1997 and now with the victories over Sainsbury's and Asda their last target is Waitrose.

Ms Gellatley says: "We will not stop campaigning until we have eradicated all 'exotic' meats from British supermarket shelves. Our work has ensured that the British public do not want the world's wildlife butchered for food. Crocodile, bison, camel, kangaroo and ostrich have been dropped by Tesco, Morrisons, Somerfield, Sainsbury's, Asda and Booker cash and carry as a result of our campaign. Waitrose is now effectively the last big stockist of ostrich meat and we will stop them. If we allow this trade to become established it will give a green light to the farming of all wildlife. Without mass markets the trade is a non-starter."

Viva! has a Day of Action against Waitrose planned for Saturday, February 27. Viva! local groups and supporters will dress as ostriches, carry banners and hand out leaflets and protest cards to customers outside Waitrose stores across Britain. Ms Gellatley concludes: "We intend to shame Waitrose out of this cruel trade."