THE Archbishop of York has criticised a decision by major supermarkets not to sell Easter eggs with a religious message.

A decision by supermarket giants not to sell a chocolate product entitled The Real Easter Egg, which celebrates the origins of Easter and comes with a leaflet on the resurrection, has prompted Dr John Sentamu to call for the rethink.

The Archbishop of York’s call for the Meaningful Chocolate Company’s charity egg to be stocked by Sainsbury’s, Asda and the Co-op comes after former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, said he was “saddened” by the decision.

He said the supermarkets were undermining the real message of Easter by failing to offer an alternative to secular Easter eggs.

The Warrington-based firm is said to have spent five years trying to persuade stores to sell its £4 Christian-themed eggs, which also feature Christian crosses on the box. One buyer is even said to have asked: “What has Easter got to do with the Church?” according to the makers of The Real Easter Egg.

The eggs were launched in 2010 with the backing of Archbishop Sentamu. Two years ago, five major chains agreed to sell them, but this year some of them dropped them.