From this week all Marks & Spencer household and beauty products will carry a leaping bunny logo certifying they have not been tested on animals.

The retailer has introduced the logo to all 1,200 household products from lavender laundry liquid through to air fresheners and tea tree face wipes.

Working with animal rights group the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), it has taken several months to roll the logo out.

The move comes in response to consumer concerns about animal welfare and is part of the retailer's wider Plan A strategy.

"With more than 80% of consumers concerned about animal testing and specifically household products, being able to clearly label all our beauty and household ranges with the BUAV's leaping bunny logo will give our customers added peace of mind and be their guide to cruelty-free shopping," said Mick Barry, M&S head of corporate social responsibility.

However, BUAV admitted, it would be impossible to guarantee ingredients had not at some stage been tested on animals.

Virtually every ingredient in household products and cosmetics had been tested on animals at some point, it said.

He nevertheless reiterated M&S's commitment to ensuring that no new products were tested on animals and that no-one in its supply chain used animal testing.