Pixies' singer joins campaign against fast food giant

Pixies frontman Black Francis has teamed up with an animal rights organisation to campaign against US fast food chain KFC.

The singer - real name Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV - has signed a petition by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urging the takeout chain to improve the lives of the chickens used in the restaurant's food.

The campaign accuses bosses at the fried chicken group of using battery-farmed animals which are raised in inhumane conditions.

Francis is now urging members of the public and his own legion of fans to sign the petition at KentuckyFriedCruelty.com to help raise awareness of the issue.

PETA spokesman Michael McGraw said: "Frank knows that consumers care about animal welfare, and he's helping to spread the word that KFC stands for cruelty. After all, if KFC executives treated cats or dogs the way they allow KFC's suppliers to treat chickens, they'd be hit with cruelty-to-animals charges."

KFC bosses have also faced the wrath of actress Pamela Anderson, an ardent animal rights activist, who has joined the campaign.

A statement from the outlet earlier this year said: "KFC has strict animal welfare standards for all our suppliers and we are committed to the humane treatment of poultry.

"We receive our chicken from the very same suppliers as other fast food companies and supermarkets. The industry has been working with these suppliers to explore alternative methods of stunning."