CROUCH End and Belsize branches of Budgens supermarket were inundated by shoppers anxious to try squirrel meat this weekend. The Budgens stores gained worldwide media attention last week after an animal rights organisation objected to the Crouch End bra

CROUCH End and Belsize branches of Budgens supermarket were "inundated" by shoppers anxious to try squirrel meat this weekend.

The Budgens stores gained worldwide media attention last week after an animal rights organisation objected to the Crouch End branch of the shop selling the unusual meat.

But owner Andrew Thornton says the publicity has inadvertently had the opposite effect, with local shoppers going nuts for the product.

Vegetarians International Voice for Animals (Viva) said the store was committing a "wildlife massacre" by selling the meat.

Viva founder Juliet Gellatley said: "Culls of thousands of grey squirrels by so-called conservation groups to boost populations of red squirrels are irrational, inhumane and destined to fail.

"It is very sad that Budgens are allowing profit to be made from wildlife massacre."

But Mr Thornton said: "We were inundated by people wanting to buy them. Everyone's got a bit squirrel mad.