A COUNCIL has shown it is a good egg by winning a national award.

Rochford District Council joined top UK companies including Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury’s by winning an award from Compassion in World Farming.

The council collected its award at a ceremony at the Local Government Association Conference today in Bournemouth for its commitment to only use barn, free-range or organic eggs, and was presented with its award by poet Pam Ayres.

Now in their fourth year, the Good Egg Awards have been developed by Compassion in World Farming to celebrate the commitment of companies and organisations to stop using eggs from battery hens.

Leader of Rochford District Council, Terry Cutmore, said: “It was great honour to collect this award on behalf of the council, as we work very hard to promote and support animal welfare. The commitment to stop using eggs from battery caged hens is part of our Animal Welfare Charter which we are very proud of.”

Compassion in World Farming’s head of food business, Rowen West-Henzell, said: “We congratulate Rochford District Council for going cage-free and hope that other councils will follow their example. All local authorities have a clear opportunity to lead the way in animal welfare standards, ahead of the 2012 EU ban on barren battery cages."