'Stay of execution' for bird living in store

GREAT YARMOUTH, England, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- British supermarket chain Tesco has backed off plans to have a marksman assassinate a small bird that has taken up residence in one of its stores.

Tesco applied for a license this week from Natural England to have a marksman use an air rifle to take out the protected pied wagtail after the Great Yarmouth store closes Saturday, but the store called off the plans after an outcry from members of the public, including Chris Packham, host of BBC nature show "Springwatch."

"Can I ask you to rethink the shooting of the wagtail in Gt Yarmouth store please. I'm sure the bird could be caught," Packham tweeted.

Tesco responded it was open to alternatives and Packham suggested teaming with the British Trust for Ornithology to find a way to conduct a "live capture" and give the bird a "stay of execution."

"Happy to liaise with BTO, we're going to explore other options over the next few weeks and will keep you updated," Tesco East Aglia posted on its Twitter account.