THE use of the Little Red Tractor logo on bread by Safeway has been hailed as a vote of confidence in Britain's premier food assurance scheme.

The giant supermarket chain will be the first to use the logo on a range of bread products produced by its in-store bakeries.

NFU vice-president Michael Paske said: "The Little Red Tractor logo means consumers are buying a product that has been produced to strict British quality assurance standards."

The logo has become increasingly visible on supermarket shelves since it was unveiled in March 2000, with products ranging from mince to goats milk carrying the logo.

Mr Paske said: "Consumers are right to demand food that is produced to a high standard. Farmers are proud of the Little Red Tractor brand and the standard it sets for food hygiene, environmental and animal welfare standards. "With bread such an everyday product, the visibility of the logo will be maximised to the extent that it will be present in just about every Safeway customer's basket."

The NFU also endorsed Safeway's baking of regional bread from locally produced grain for sale in its stores in some areas, including the Cotswolds. He said: "Drawing the link between local farmers and the bread people eat every day will help reconnect the two."