[bbfan1991]

A dead bird has been discovered in a Tesco salad by a Gloucestershire couple.

James and Jasmine Watson, aged 32 and 30 respectively, had bought a babyleaf rocket salad online for £1.50 when they came across the five-inch bird - revealed to be a Blackcap warbler.

"We couldn't believe it," James said. "We stood there, completely amazed, for at least two minutes."

Recalling the incident, he added: "I opened the bag, tipped it into a salad bowl and cut up some other salad bits and put them on top. Then I served the salad on some plates.

"We sat down at the breakfast bar and only had a few low lights on, so we were effectively eating by candlelight.

"I took three mouthfuls and then saw it. My first reaction was, 'Why have I got a soggy fishcake on my plate?' But this was a full-size dead bird."

Tesco offered the Watsons a £200 gift card in compensation, calling it a "gesture of goodwill", reports The Daily Telegraph.

A Tesco spokesperson stated: "We were concerned to learn of this issue and have investigated thoroughly with our supplier.

"Both we and our suppliers have robust measures in place to prevent incidents such as this, and our salad leaves go through complex filtering and washing systems."

James countered: "If it was a maggot or something I could almost understand it, but how a whole bird was not picked up - I have just been gobsmacked by the whole thing.

"The magnitude of this was disgraceful, and I find the offer of compensation a bit of an insult."

Eww.