AN investigation is under way into how a garden centre was allowed to kill nesting baby robins.

The national Wyevale Garden Centre chain based in Hereford, has apologised after one of its centres took the decision to cull two chicks and an adult bird nesting in the cafeteria.

The robins had been seen flying in and out of air vents close to food serving and eating areas at the Wyevale Garden Centre, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire.

Permission for the cull was given by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, but the government department is now re-examining the decision after concerns were raised by the RSPCA and RSPB.

Some customers are also threatening to boycott the chain in protest at the action.

Evening News reader Sheila Winter, of Primrose Crescent, Worcester, said she believed the garden centre had behaved despicably and she would not patronise their stores again.

"I find it unacceptable that, being a garden centre and no doubt selling wild bird food and bird tables, the staff allowed the birds to nest in the first place," she said, in a letter to the newspaper.

She said the chain should be banned from selling wild bird food, bird tables or anything related to wild birds.

The Wyevale chain has issued a statement, apologising for any distress caused, but saying that the cull was necessary to comply with the Food Safety Act 1990.

"The legislation states that the sale of food contaminated with bird droppings is an offence and, in cases such as this, we are legally required to comply," it said.

The statement added that the centre's primary concern was customers' health and safety, but bosses sympathised with the concerns expressed and apologised sincerely for any distress caused.

DEFRA said a licence to kill the birds was only awarded after consideration by an experienced wildlife adviser.

The RSPCA said the problem would have resolved itself within a very short time, a view supported by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

RSPB spokesman Grahame Madge said the young birds would have left the nest after two to three weeks.