Protesters from across Europe demanded the closure of a cat farm in the latest of a long line of demonstrations.

About 1,300 demonstrators descended on Witney on Saturday to protest against Hillgrove cat farm, where farmer Chris Brown breeds cats for experiments.

A 36-year-old man was arrested for a public order offence, but otherwise the demonstration passed peacefully.

Protesters came from Italy, France and Germany. Ernst Wagner, from Germany, said: "We have heard a lot about the farm and we are joining our British colleagues demanding its closure. It's horrible what goes on in there." Police allowed protesters to march into Dry Lane but not on to the farm.

Three hundred police, including several dozen from Hampshire, and 25 mounted officers, shadowed the protesters in Dry Lane and through Witney.There were a further 25 mounted officers and one person, a 36-year-old man, was arrested for public order offences.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Richard Goodfellow said they had agreed the route of the protest with campaigners beforehand. "We had a substantial number of police officers to prevent a repeat of any violence."

Story date: Monday 19 April

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