BASILDON MP Angela Smith has backed a campaign to improve the lives of millions of chickens.

At a ceremony at Parliament, Mrs Smith received a Good Egg award on behalf of local councils, to reward their support for ethically-produced eggs.

The awards are run by animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming, and aim to encourage companies and organisations to only use eggs produced by organic, free range, or barn-kept hens.

Launched in 2007, the campaign hopes to eradicate the use of cages in egg production, which would benefit more than 15million laying hens each year.

Mrs Smith said: “The campaign is a great idea, and I am very pleased to be a part of it.

“Buying ethically produced eggs is a small change, and it doesn’t cost much money because companies and councils have purchasing power.

“Everyone, from individual shoppers to business owners, can make a difference.”

For more information on the Good Egg awards and campaign, visit www.thegoodeggawards.com or www.ciwf.org.uk