Calls for Preston to swap eggs for potatoes for the Easter rolling event

PETA says potatoes will mean it's a cheaper, healthier, and more animal-friendly alternative.

Author: Alex HulsePublished 31st Mar 2026

Animal welfare group PETA has urged Preston City Council to swap eggs for potatoes in its annual Easter egg roll.

It's only of the oldest events of its kind in the UK and PETA is calling on the authority to swap eggs with dyed Easter potatoes, which it says is a cheaper, healthier, and more animal-friendly alternative.

In the letter to the council, PETA notes an annual potato roll would be inclusive to all, particularly those who don’t eat eggs for health, cultural, religious, or environmental reasons or because they don’t want to support filthy farms, where thousands of hens are confined to dark, filthy sheds, often unable to stretch their wings fully.

PETA Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen said: “Children love animals and would be sad to learn that the eggs used for fun and games at Preston’s egg rolling event come from tormented hens who live miserable lives on Britain’s farms.

“Easter should be a time of renewal and joy for all sentient beings – and that means hens, too.”

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.