A supermarket worker in Hampshire who was suspended for wearing a Help for Heroes bracelet and a poppy pin badge in tribute to Drummer Lee Rigby has been allowed back to work.

Adam Austin was disciplined by bosses at the Morrisons store in Portsmouth after he refused to remove the items, which he said he wore ''out of respect'' for the murdered soldier.

Now Morrisons' chief executive Dalton Philips has posted a message on Facebook expressing his regret in enforcing the dress code, which was put in place for health and safety reasons.

He said: ''Quite simply we got the balance wrong. Our existing rules on wearing badges are there for a good reason. We make lots of fresh food in store and no customer would want a badge dropping into their food by mistake.

''It is a food safety issue. And all supermarkets and restaurants apply the same commonsense rules. But we were applying the rules to all colleagues. And that's not right. So we have changed them.

''Colleagues not preparing fresh food will now be able to wear a pin badge or bracelet to show their support for registered charities like Help for Heroes. So Adam can return to work and wear his poppy with pride.

''It's really important to me that we show our support for our armed forces. They do really hard work on our behalf. They put their lives on the line every day. Drummer Lee Rigby's murder was abhorrent. I share your outrage at the death of this fine soldier.

''So we do encourage our colleagues to wear poppies in October and November to remember all members of the armed forces that have died in the service of our country. Last year we helped raise over £2 million to support the Royal British Legion. And that's why we regularly welcome Help for Heroes fundraisers into our shops.

''Trust me, at Morrisons we'll always make sure our armed forces are supported.''