CAMPAIGNERS against live animals exports will hold a vigil in Ramsgate this Saturday.

The peaceful protest will run from noon on Saturday until noon on Sunday and will be held at Ramsgate port.

Throughout the day protesters will picket the entrance to the port, which has recently started taking shipments of live animals, while other supporters will hand out leaflets to the public outside the Ramsgate Maritime Museum.

A candle-lit vigil will begin at around 7pm.

Ros Bane, a member of Kent Against Live Exports (KALE) said: "The vigil is for the animals that have already been transported to the other side and is in remembrance of what they have suffered. Our aim is just to get all trades in live animal exports to stop."

Protesters have picketed the port since live exports from Ramsgate resumed in May.

Cows, calves and sheep have been sent to the Continent on the former Soviet tank carrier Joline.

A petition calling on the Government to review the 1847 Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act and give ports the right to refuse the shipment of live animals overseas has been launched.

If 100,000 signatures are collected, the issue could be discussed in Parliament.

To sign the petition go to epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/16024