Compassion in World Farming arrives in Martlesham, near Kesgrave, to call on Therese Coffey to ban live exports

An animal welfare group arrived in Suffolk this morning as part of a campaign to ban live animal exports from the UK.

Compassion in World Farming parked its advert van outside the Suffolk Coastal Conservative Association Office in Martlesham, between Kesgrave and Woodbridge, in a call to end what it saw as an 'unethical and outdated' practice.

They brought with them over 27,000 signatures, located inside a model of an animal transport van, from people up and down the country calling on the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and MP Therese Coffey to pass the Kept Animals Bill.

The group said the bill had been in limbo for 15 months, and wanted the Government to ratify it to keep a promise made during the last general election.

Nick Palmer, the head of Compassion in World Farming UK, revealed the team were there to press Ms Coffey and its passage would finally end live exports, which was a 'scandal that had gone on for many years'.

Mr Palmer added: "The practice of live animal exporting is unethical, outdated and completely unnecessary.

"Cramping animals into small trucks and ferries causes great suffering for the animal for the days or weeks the journeys take.

"The animals will be slaughtered at the end, so why not just export the meat?"

Mr Palmer said the animal are often exported from the UK to southern Europe, to countries like Spain, or even as far afield as Hungary or Bulgaria.

He estimated it only accounted for 1.4 per cent of trade.

Mr Palmer said: "The end of live exports is something we've been campaigning for since we set up more than 50 years ago.

"When the bill was first propsed, we were excited as we thought that our years of campaigning had paid off.

"However, as it appears to have stalled, we felt it needed a push.

"We feel as though this isn't just a national issue – but a chance for Ms Coffey to meet the promises and expectations for constituents."

The charity, which is based in Surrey, will visit five locations on its 'ad-van' tour, which features images of animals being transported as well as pictures of MPs.

Martlesham was the second location, as the headquarters of Ms Coffey, the Secretary of State for the environment.

The team were in Taunton, Somerset, yesterday, handing the petition to Rebecca Pow's constituency office.

Later today, they will appear in Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, the constituency of Mark Spencer, before heading to Bootle in Cumbira to deliver the petition to Trudy Harrison.

The team will end in Richmond, Yorkshire, the constituency of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

DEFRA said the UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and remained committed to continuing to improve these standards.

A Government spokesperson added: “We are fully committed to delivering our manifesto commitments on animal welfare, including ending the export of live animals, clamping down on puppy smuggling and banning the keeping of primates as pets.

"The date for the next stage of the Bill will be announced in the usual way”