A disturbing story from my local newspaper

Sorry link not working.

Animal rights activists are staging a protest at Manchester Airport over claims 24 greyhounds are being transported to China.

The campaigners, from the group Caged North West, believe the dogs have been taken by ferry from Ireland to Manchester and will be flown abroad on Thursday evening.

The M.E.N understands there are no scheduled cargo flights to China from Manchester on Thursday.

But the protesters are adamant the 24 greyhounds will be sent from Manchester to Germany, then to Macau in China to be used for greyhound racing or the meat trade.

According to a spokesman for the group, greyhounds in China are destroyed if they do not perform well.

In the early hours of Thursday morning the activists say they intercepted a Transit van at Lymm services in Cheshire carrying the greyhounds.

Footage has emerged of people apparently placing dogs in cargo boxes a night, although the location is not known.



The campaigners, from the group Caged North West, believe the dogs have been taken by ferry from Ireland to Manchester and will be flown abroad on Thursday evening.

The M.E.N understands there are no scheduled cargo flights to China from Manchester on Thursday.

But the protesters are adamant the 24 greyhounds will be sent from Manchester to Germany, then to Macau in China to be used for greyhound racing or the meat trade.

According to a spokesman for the group, greyhounds in China are destroyed if they do not perform well.

In the early hours of Thursday morning the activists say they intercepted a Transit van at Lymm services in Cheshire carrying the greyhounds.

Footage has emerged of people apparently placing dogs in cargo boxes a night, although the location is not known.

Watch: Footage taken by activists of the greyhounds

The protesters have been waiting at the cargo entrance to Manchester Airport since before dawn on Thursday, but no Transit van carrying animals has yet been seen.

It is understood there are no scheduled cargo flights to China from Manchester on Thursday.


But Michael James, 35, co-founder of Caged North West said: “We received information 24 greyhounds are coming to Manchester from Ireland, they travelled on a ferry from Holyhead.

"We managed to intercept the vehicle at Lymm services. They are Manchester bound to Manchester Airport, the flight destination is China.”




He added: “It is an emotive and major issue. Everyone we come across now, everyone is against it. Australia has banned greyhounds from travelling to China.

"In greyhound racing in China, if the dog does not place in the first three it will be destroyed. They are also sold into the illegal meat trade.

“If we can keep them in this country until 6.30pm they will be safe. We are not giving up, we are not leaving today.”

As many as 40 protesters were said to be waiting at the airport overnight, but the number of participants has now scaled down to around seven.

A spokesman for Manchester Airport said: “This morning a small group of protesters held a peaceful demonstration on the airport site. This did not impact on operations in any way.”

terrible the people should be locked up !

if links do not work go to manchestereveningnews.co.uk