Asda removes Remembrance Sunday tribute to 'fallen soldier'

Supermarket removes the fallen soldier part of its tribute following complaints

The poppy is worn each year by millions of people as a symbol of remembrance (Getty)

Asda has removed one of its tributes to Remembrance Sunday depicting a fallen soldier.

Staff at Manchester’s Harpurhey store had made their own display to commemorate those who died in the First World War.

The display featured a tree of poppies and a mannequin wearing army uniform lying on a bed of poppies, with a single poppy in his hand and one on his chest.

The tribute led to a number of complaints.

Kie tweeted: “How anybody ever thought this was a good idea at @asda need their head testing. Absolutely disgusting”.

Brad Wray, 26 of Droylsden also complained on Twitter. He had served in the Royal Air force for seven years.

Telling the Manchester Evening News, he said: “As someone who is ex-forces, I found it in pretty bad taste. “Everything done by the Royal British Legion is very professional and respectful.

“For someone who has served and seen casualties on the battlefield, or a family member who has lost someone, to walk and see that could really trigger stress. I’m glad it was changed.”

Not everyone thought it should have been removed though.

Andy Kay wrote on Facebook: “Removed a fallen soldier poppy statue because it offended people . Well its removal offends me.”

An Asda spokeswoman said the display was intended as a mark of respect.

She went on to say: “We’re proud to support the Poppy appeal in our stores across the UK and have been welcoming volunteers from the Royal British Legion into our stores to sell remembrance poppies.

“Our colleagues have been holding fundraising activities in stores to support the Poppy Appeal and it was not our intention to cause offence with the poppy display at the Harpurhey store.

“There were a couple of complaints about the use of the mannequin within the display, so a decision was made to remove the mannequin but leave the rest of the display and poppies still standing.”