AN animal welfare charity has declared Plymouth City Council a "good egg".

The authority has been singled out by the Compassion in World Farming charity for using only ethical eggs in its catering departments.

The council was honoured with some silverware at the charity's Public Procurement Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards.

It took home a 'Good Egg' award from the ceremony in London, which recognised the efforts of over 40 hospitals, schools and councils.

Guest speaker TV chef Allegra McEvedy MBE said: "Any chef will be quick to tell you how much better food that has had a life tastes. But for once, flavour comes second. Even though this industry is all geared in one direction – our tummies – that is no excuse to abuse animals."

Host Jenny Jones, a Green Assembly Member and former chair of London Food, said: "Animal welfare concerns are a growing influence on consumer choices and purchasing habits.

"It is our responsibility to accelerate this change by pressing for high ethical standards."

The awards have been running since 2007. Also up for grabs were 'Good Chicken' and 'Good Dairy' gongs, for organisations that use similarly ethical chicken and dairy produce.

Compassion in World Farming's head of food business, Katy Read, added: "It is so great to see the public sector's catering departments taking animal welfare into consideration when sourcing their meat, dairy and egg produce."