ANIMAL welfare campaigners in Harrogate dressed as sheep and covered themselves with fake blood to protest against live exports.
Members of the Compassion in World Farming group targeted the Ministry of Agriculture's offices to press for tighter EU regulations. The group claims more than one million sheep were exported live from the UK last year and are often subject to journeys of 40 to 50 hours in appalling conditions.
Live exports are believed to account for about 10 per cent of meat exports.
But government agriculture officials said they were taking the lead in trying to improve conditions for live animal exports.
Officials said UK regulations had been tightened up and they were now pushing for this to be done across the EU.
PICTURE: PROTEST: Animal welfare protesters in sheep masks protest outside the Ministry of Agriculture's regional office in Harrogate
Picture: Richard Doughty
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