THE Government is preparing to investigate claims that live animal exports from Ramsgate port are in breach of European laws.

Campaigners have been asked to hand over photos that appear to show animals left exposed to the elements during sea crossings.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is leading the investigation into conditions aboard the Joline, which is used to take animals from Ramsgate to the Continent.

The pictures were taken by campaigner Valerie Cameron, who was part of a team that followed the Latvian ship as it left the Thanet council-owned port.

Last month a meeting was held between the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Kent Trading Standards, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and representatives of Thanet Against Live Exports (TALE).

During the meeting TALE representative Reginald Bell raised concerns that the Joline is not compliant with EU rules that state animals should be protected from sea spray.

Mr Bell was one of the campaigners who followed the Joline out of the port. He told the Isle of Thanet Gazette: "We have been trying to make Defra aware of this issue for months now. The ship does not provide proper protection from the sea spray. This is a requirement under EU law. This isn't about animal rights, this is about basic animal welfare. I am angry – incandescent – at the lack of action so far."

The Joline was built in 1985 in the Soviet Union and was intended as transport across lakes and rivers. It was later modified to be used for Channel crossings.

The AHVLA, which works on behalf of Defra, has now been in touch with Mr Bell, asking him to submit evidence and a witness statement regarding the Joline.

The suspected breach of rules concerns EU animal transport regulations which demand that "on open decks adequate protection from sea water is provided" for animals.

Thanet district councillor Ian Driver, who has been championing the campaign against live animal exports from Ramsgate, said: "The slats on the trailers were left open in very choppy seas.

"The journey on this occasion took six hours because of the poor sea conditions. The sheep must have been soaking wet and freezing cold by the time they reached Calais.

"This incident shows that the operators of the Joline have absolutely no regard for the welfare of the animals they are transporting. I am calling on Defra to revoke the operator's animal transport licence with immediate effect."

Members of TALE were due to stage a protest outside Thanet council's offices last night (Thursday) to highlight an e-petition calling for an end to live animal exports.

Mr Driver said: "Thanet council has already declared its public opposition to this trade, so it makes sense that it should also support our e-petition against the export of live farm animals from Ramsgate.

"We need to get 100,000 signatures in the next 11 months to have a Parliamentary debate on this issue and hopefully change the laws which allow this barbaric practice to continue."

The e-petition was started two weeks ago and has now attracted more than 3,000 signatures.

The petition calls on the Government to review the 1847 Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act and give port owners the right to refuse the shipment of live animals overseas.

Last week the RSPCA also called on Defra to remove the operating licence from the Joline, saying the ship was unsuitable. Film company Aardman Animations also demanded that the Dutch owners of Joline remove large images of Shaun the Sheep from the ship, because they were unauthorised.