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Crowds of animal rights activists protested outside a high-end central London clothing store amid claims coyotes and geese are mistreated to make the brand’s products.

Canada Goose, which makes luxury winter clothing, opened its flagship UK store on the capital’s iconic Regent Street this week.

But the Canadian brand has faced global criticism for producing parka jackets with a trim made from coyote fur, which animal rights group PETA claim are caught in the wild in steel traps.

PETA alleges the coyotes are then shot or bludgeoned to death. The group also claims the geese, whose feathers are used in the company’s jackets, are mistreated.

Hordes of protesters gathered outside the shop on Saturday holding posters with slogans reading “fur is murder”, “blood on your hands” and “is your vanity worth your suffering?”

There was a heavy police presence around the entrance of the store as demonstrators shouted: “Shame on you.”

A man with a loudspeaker led activists in chants reciting “fur trade, torture trade”, “fur trade, death trade” and “fur trade, murder trade”.

The nine-hour protest began at 11am and was expected to go on until 8pm.

The retailer previously hit back at charity PETA’s claims, saying: “Surge, PETA and other activist groups misrepresent the facts and use sensational tactics to try to illicit a reaction and mislead consumers.

“They ignore the strict government regulation and standards that are in place, as well as our commitment to ethical sourcing practices and responsible use of fur and down.”

On Saturday a spokeswoman told the Standard: "PETA and other animal activists are grossly misinformed about our animal welfare practices.

"Canada Goose remains deeply committed to the responsible use and ethical sourcing of all animal materials in our products.

"While we respect their opinion and right to protest, we are appalled by their extreme, inexcusable behavior and unsurprised by their attempt to capitalize on media attention tied to the opening of our store in London."

Canada Goose is already stocked by retailers including Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

Its London store is the first to be opened in the UK and the largest in Europe.

Jackets range in price from around £650 to more than £1,000.