PROTESTERS against live animal exports from the Port of Ramsgate are planning a march through the town centre.

Campaigners met on Friday at a public meeting at St Lawrence to decide on what action they could take after shipments started from Thanet last month.

Emotions ran high as hundreds of animal lovers packed the church hall to air their views.

Ramsgate town councillor Ian Driver, who organised the meeting, said: "Let's petition, let's march through the middle of Ramsgate.

"The only way we will stop this barbaric cruelty is if men, women and children join us."

The third shipment of calves and sheep left Ramsgate in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Philip Lymbrey from Compassion In World Farming, which lobbies MPs on the subject of animal welfare, said: "Some of the animals can travel up to 70 hours at a time and we know how awful this can be. How can this go on?

"If animals are to be slaughtered it should be done as near to where they are reared as possible.

"We have to stop this resurgence of the export trade."

Kent farmer Frank Langrish, who has 10,000 sheep but has not used Ramsgate for live export, was shouted down as he told protesters an abattoir in northern France was the nearest to his farm in Kent.

The National Farmers' Union spokesman said: "The only reason why these animals are exported is because they are worth so much money on the other side of the Channel but they have to arrive in perfect condition."

Mr Langrish agreed that Ramsgate was not the best option for getting animals to France. He added: "I personally think going out of Ramsgate is a bad idea. They should be on freight from Dover because it is a lot faster. It can take up to four hours from Ramsgate compared to two hours from Dover."

The march, which has to be approved by police, is planned for August 13.

For a full report on the meeting see this week's Isle of Thanet Gazette.