Britain's Hindu community, who are extremely put out by the fact that one of Britain's largest

shoemakers, Clarks, decided to call two designs of shoes after Vishnu and Krishna. Under fire from various Hindu groups ... the demonstrations are being planned in Leicester this weekend to protest ... and demand that the shoes be withdrawn.

 The names appear only on boxes in which they are supplied and not on the shoes themselves ... Clarks has apologised and ordered its staff to cover up the names on the shoe-boxes ..

 Mahesh Prasher, secretary of the Hindu religious and Cultural Society in Leicester said that Hindus could not have been more insulted. He said: "Footwear is considered unclean in our religion and that is why shoes are always removed on entering our temples. Hindus also consider the cow to be sacred, so to associate both footwear and leather products with our gods causes huge offence and insult."

 Lord Bagri, chairman of the London Metal Exchange, says that he is "disappointed and concerned by the lack of research by the company. In a multiracial and multireligious society like we have in this country, it is the obligation of marketing departments to make sure that they do not cause offence to religious and other sensitivities."

 Keith Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester and self-styled spokesman for all ethnic causes said: "You are not supposed to call the things you walk on after gods ..

 A spokesperson for Britian's largest Hindu temple, the Swaminarayan temple in London ... struck a different note: "I am sure it was not meant to be disrespectful. Mistakes happen and it is a part of human life ..

 The ever vigilant Hindus of Leicester have in 1992 demanded that a French waste management company remove its initials S.I.T.A. from the sides of its garbage vans, as this spelt the name of a Hindu goddess.