A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND protester was carried away by police as she attempted to block livestock lorries heading into a slaughterhouse that has been at the centre of cruelty allegations.

More than 20 campaigners gathered outside Elmkirk Ltd – formerly Cheale Meats – in Warley on Thursday afternoon. It was the biggest protest at the abattoir since covert film footage was released allegedly showing two workers – who have now been sacked – punching and stubbing out cigarettes on pigs.

While the activists blocked lorries filled with pigs during about five-and-a-half hours of protests from noon, they were ordered to move by police who were growing increasingly concerned over the welfare of the animals inside the vehicles.

Nearly all the demonstrators eventually cleared the entrance to let four livestock lorries and other vehicles through. But wheelchair-bound Debbie Deboo stayed firm and made various excuses for not moving, before officers lifted her away.

Mrs Deboo insists there was an unnecessary number of police at the end of the protests, with between 20 to 30 officers arriving in the end to clear them away.

She said: "I was terrified in front of that many police. I had never done anything like that before, but I wanted to do something for the pigs.

"I wanted to make a statement and explained that to the police. They did not hurt me or anything, but I was scared and left shocked for quite a bit."

The 43-year-old, from Romford, had earlier called for CCTV of abattoirs to be monitored externally to stop future abuse. Her plea echoed other calls for the former employees to be prosecuted and action to be taken to ensure standards are maintained.

She said: "I am a vegan and would be very happy if no more pigs were killed.

Chants of "murderer", "scum" and "blood on your hands" greeted those heading into the site earlier in the day, including one employee on a bike.

They were only hushed when they decided to hold a respectful silence as the pigs headed into the slaughterhouse at the end of the day.

Campaigner Debbie Bayfield, who had travelled from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, said: "Today we have really made a statement. We have stopped three lorries going in full of pigs."

After the footage, recorded by the campaign group Animal Aid, was broadcast on Sky, the firm revealed that it had sacked two employees for breaching its animal welfare code.

A police spokesman said: "Police asked the protesters to move aside to let the lorries through, but some people refused to move. Police officers then moved them out of the way.

"However, the lady in the wheelchair put her feet on the ground, which would make it dangerous for the chair to be wheeled in the usual way.

"Police officers briefly lifted the chair to move her out of the way, at which point she relented and was wheeled further away by her colleague."