A PET store continued to sell a treat containing eucalyptus – which experts say is toxic to most animals – despite a promise to remove it from shelves. Sandra Phillips, of Green Close in Stevenage, became concerned when she realised Pets at Home was selli

A PET store continued to sell a treat containing eucalyptus - which experts say is toxic to most animals - despite a promise to remove it from shelves.

Sandra Phillips, of Green Close in Stevenage, became concerned when she realised Pets at Home was selling Woodlands Eucalyptus Sticks for Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Hamsters.

"All the information I can find states dried eucalyptus leaves are toxic," she said.

Pets at Home has stores on Fairlands Way in Stevenage and Jubilee Road in Letchworth GC.

Miss Phillips contacted Australia Zoo with her worry, and a spokesman said: "Crikey! Dried eucalyptus leaves do not form part of rabbits', guinea pigs' and hamsters' natural diet and to most animals they are in fact toxic."

A Pets at Home manager told Miss Phillips that, while the company believes the product to be safe, it is aware of "differing opinions" and had decided "to err on the side of caution and stop selling them".

This promise was made in November, but the company continued to sell the treats.

A Pets at Home spokesman told The Comet last week: "Having now sold our remaining stock of this product, we will not be selling it again."

An online petition started by Miss Phillips at http:petitions.number10.gov.uk/baneucalyptus calls for a ban on selling animal products containing eucalyptus, and has so far secured more than 220 signatures.