Winchester is currently hit by an egg crisis with empty shelves throughout the city.

The shortage has been caused by a dispute between the supermarkets and producers who say they are not being paid enough.

On Monday, Tesco Express had no eggs at all. Sainsbury's on Middle Brook Street had more, but only a shelf at the back of the shop with a small number of free-range eggs.

Organic eggs were only available in the city centre at Marks & Spencer.

On Tuesday, November 22, Tesco in Winnall was providing its customers with by far the best offering in Winchester, boasting an extensive range of value, free range and organic eggs. While there are still out-of-stock signs on display, the supermarket still had lots on offer.

Tesco has become the latest of the supermarket giants to ration the sale of eggs, following the lead of both Aldi and Lidl. Shoppers are limited to a maximum of three cartons.

On the other hand, Sainsbury's in Badger Farm has no eggs at all, rather offering customers apologies for any inconvenience caused and filling the space beneath with mince pies.

Sam Burge is a farmer at Vale Farm in Winchester. He produces free-range eggs and he urged people to shop local in order to boycott the supermarket chains. 

On the shortage, Sam said: “It's been a long time coming, for a long time the supermarkets haven't been paying a fair price because it's a race to see who can sell the cheapest eggs.

"A small part of it is bird flu which has meant some flocks of laying hens have been slaughtered, I believe that takes around a million eggs a day off the shelf. Farmers haven't been restocking with new birds because they're barely breaking even.

"It's a perfect storm really because for me as a producer the cost of labour has gone up 15 per cent, the feed for the hens has gone up 70 per cent, and packaging, diesel and fuel have also all gone up. Electric has gone up 300 per cent. 

“The end [of the shortage] will only come when the supermarkets start paying packers more money, and they can then pass it on to the farmers.”

For people looking to support local businesses, Vale Farm Free Range Eggs in Winchester, runs an egg shed on its farm selling farm-fresh eggs every day.