The environmental group Greenpeace visited Cowbridge last night and left a message critical of Tesco outside the High Street 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 Penarth and Barry.

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 10.30am, Tesco staff had scrubbed the message from the pavement.

Duty manager at Tesco Express Rhys Young said: "I came in as normal and saw the chalk on the floor.

"Obviously it's not an ideal start to the morning and for people walking past, it displays a negative message. It's nothing to do with us personally.

"We cleaned it up at 6.30am before we opened just to make sure no customers were turned away by the message."

We are awaiting comment from Tesco's press office.