Merseyside police said this week that no action would be taken against Israel boycott protesters who marched into a Tesco store to hand out leaflets asking shoppers not to buy goods from West Bank settlements.

Police answered a call from the Aigburth Tesco Metro in south Liverpool just after 11am on the Saturday before last after the store's manager complained that protesters were disturbing customers.

But by the time officers arrived, the 10 pro-Palestinian activists were conducting a "peaceful demonstration" outside the store according to officers.

A police spokesman said: "It was reported that a number of people entered the store, described as middle-aged men, who were handing out some leaflets about boycotting Israeli goods. On attendance no one was inside the store but 10 people were protesting peacefully."

Police said that protesters were trying to dissuade customers from buying products from Israeli settlements which they believed were illegal for Tesco to sell. Officers were also satisfied leaflets did not contain any racially inflammatory content.

Tesco were unable to respond to inquiries before going to press.