Supermarket boss Sir Ken Morrison may have a tough business mind but hedgehog lovers have uncovered his soft heart, too.

The retail magnate has not only pulled greetings cards from his stores after protests from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, but also penned a jovial reply - in verse - to their complaint.

Sir Ken, who is chairman and founder of the Bradford-based supermarket chain, received a letter from the BHPS after one of its members was upset by the design of greetings cards displayed in one of the company's Yorkshire stores.

The offending designs showed hedgehogs trying to cross a busy road - and not getting very far.

Shopper and animal lover Anne Coverley of Kirkheaton, Huddersfield, complained to her local store manager over the cartoons and contacted the BHPS when nothing was done.

The society's chief executive Adrian Coles wrote Sir Ken a poem which started: "Rumour has it you're a reasonable man, A poet too, that makes us a fan."

The verse continues: "Sad Mrs Coverley who resides in HD5, Recently received the shock of her life, When shopping in her local Morrisons mart, It fair did make her poor heart smart, For there on the shelves in the card section, She spotted a somewhat dubious collection, Of birthday cards showing Hedgehogs in horrible ways - this upset her for many days."

And Sir Ken replied in similar vein.

"On reading your rhyme, I thought 'Poor Mrs Coverley', I can quite understand that thinking all Hedgehogs love-r-ly, These unfortunate cards would come as a shock, Her subsequent comments caused us to take stock, And any cards showing Hedgehogs in an unsuitable way, Are now being removed, having had their day."

A Morrisons spokesman said: "Two or three versions of one particular card design have been removed from stores and returned to the supplier. If the chairman receives a personal letter he does endeavour to try to respond himself."

l For more details on the BHPS and how to join, contact (01584) 890801.