Sandwich shop chain Pret a Manger has withdrawn a new ‘Virgin Mary’ brand of crisps following complaints from Catholic groups that they could result in pregnancies. The firm launched the spicy tomato crisps – based on the non-alcoholic version of a Bloody Mary cocktail – last week but will now be donating them to homeless charities.

A spokesman for Shelter said they while they welcomed Pret a Manger’s, in his experience homeless people much preferred Smokey Bacon. Pret a Manger strongly deny claims made by some Catholic groups that the ‘Virgin Mary’ crisps contain minute holes.

Roy Bland