THANET council was again the scene of protests as animal lovers took their campaign to Cecil Square offices.

Around 30 protesters gathered outside the council's main offices on Thursday ahead of a meeting which included a debate on support for a petition calling on the Government to end live exports.

They were holding placards saying "Ramsgate Blood Money" in reference to the export of live animals from the council-owned port in Ramsgate, and "Legality is not Morality".

The protest was one of two held by campaign group Thanet Against Live Exports (Tale) that day, the first taking place at the Westwood Cross roundabout.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently reviewing evidence submitted by Tale after claims the export ship Joline was in breach of European laws.

The motion, put forward by Labour councillor Ian Driver and debated on Thursday night, requested that the council post a link to the petition on its website, together with a press release asking residents to sign up.

Conservative members argued that the council should not encourage residents and tabled an amendment stating that the council should merely inform people of the petition.

Council leader Bob Bayford said: "I don't think anybody can be in any doubt that this council has expressed its abhorrence of the trade but I suggest we fall short of encouraging people to sign the petition.

"I am concerned whether it is the council's role to give encouragement – there could be a lot of other people campaigning for other things and, by choosing which to support, the council could become prejudicial in that situation."

Mr Driver said: "I really cannot see why we are splitting hairs here. It is a step back, you can't duck and dive with phraseology.

"We can stand up on a moral issue or not stand up at all. I can't think of many other issues in people's lives that involve something so barbaric, so cruel and so terrible as live exports going out of Ramsgate.

"No more pussy-footing around, let's not back down from this and say what we really mean."

With the support of independent councillors Bob Grove and Thomas King, Labour members managed to vote down the Conservative amendment. Labour councillor Will Scobie then called for the e-petition link to be put on the council's home page, not just the website. The majority voted in favour of the amendment.

Mr Bayford announced he would be meeting with farms minister Jim Paice MP today (Tuesday) to discuss the issue of live exports from Ramsgate port.

The council has always opposed the trade but says it is powerless to stop it as it is deemed legal from a "free port".