�Shoppers have accused Tesco’s in Hornchurch of being insensitive for promoting a war game next to veterans selling poppies for Remembrance Day.

The war game Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was on display near to The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

Customer Judith Burrells said: “I think it is in really poor taste. The poor war veterans are trying to raise money for a good cause and they have people promoting the game rubbing their faces in it.”

Management later moved it to the rear of the store.

Dressed as soldiers

The display was at the store’s entrance and included a TV showing game clips and two people dressed as soldiers.

Mrs Burrells, whose father fought in the Second World War, says she almost failed to spot the veterans when she visited the store on Tuesday.

She said: “The advert for the game is a complete distraction to the veterans selling poppies for Remembrance Day. It has really made me angry because this game is just taking people away from the true horrors of war. It is not something that should be on a computer game – because war is a real issue.”

Customer Pam Driscoll added: “The computer game is completely glorifying war.

“When children play these games, they have no idea of what it is really like fighting in a war and they have got it right next door to the veterans who helped to fight for this country.”

One poppy seller, who did not want to be named, thanked the managers for allowing them to sell in the store.

But he said: “I think the store is exploiting us by putting us next to a display for a war game and people might even think that it is something to do with us.

“They are turning Remembrance Day into a money-making tool.”

A Tesco spokesman said that, out of respect, the store manager had made the decision to move the display to the back of the store, away from the Royal British Legion volunteers.