The environmental group Greenpeace visited Penarth last night and left a message critical of Tesco outside the Herbert Terrace branch's front door.

Under the cover of darkness, activists stencilled the words "TESCO MEAT = DEFORESTATION" in chalk.

The same message was also found outside branches in Barry and Cowbridge.

Greenpeace have long been campaigning for the supermarket chain to drop meat products farmed in areas of cleared rainforest or fed by soya grown in such areas.

In August 2020, Tesco responded by pledging support for Greenpeace's drive to end deforestation.

But Greenpeace say their pledges and actions amount to "little more than greenwashing" - a technique used to appear environmentally friendly while continuing harmful practices.

"Tesco sells more soya-fed meat than any UK supermarket, much of it from companies owned by rainforest destroyers," said Barry Greenpeace activist Hugh Thomas.

"That's why Greenpeace volunteers decided to give CEO Ken Murphy a friendly reminder that Tesco meat = deforestation.

"We hear so much about rewilding and reforestation but what is the point when Tesco continue to deforest important forests overseas, hidden from our view?"

By the time Nub News arrived at Tesco at 9:30am, Tesco staff had partially scrubbed the message from the pavement.

We are awaiting comment from Tesco's press office.