A STATEMENT from the directors of Cheale Meats Ltd was handed to the Gazette during the protest, detailing the action it has taken to ensure "the highest standards of animal welfare".

It reads: "We found some incidents in March/April on our CCTV that made us look very closely at several members of staff. We therefore promptly dismissed the two workers concerned, with a third being dismissed shortly afterwards. Then Animal Aid released their video footage showing the same operatives treating stock badly.

"Cheale Meats does not and has never in any way condoned the incidents, in fact they have been condemned by all their fellow workers and the directors of Cheale Meats.

"What did we do when we found the incidents? We had all staff handling livestock go on a retraining course, made structural alterations, called in welfare experts to assess our handling techniques/system, upgraded our CCTV to retain longer periods of recordings, and reapplied to the RSPCA Freedom Food Scheme, in which we were reinstated on October 11.

"This reinstatement followed a thorough investigation by Freedom Food and a rigorous reassessment process, in which we demonstrated that previous animal welfare failings have been addressed and we have achieved the RSPCA's welfare standards.

"We are subject to three further unannounced visits by Freedom Food within six months of reinstatement, after which time we will continue to receive annual assessments by Freedom Food and be subject to monitoring visits by the RSPCA's farm livestock officers.

"In short, we have done everything possible to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare."