Cardboard cats were nailed to crosses by animal rights protesters outside an Oxfordshire church at the Easter Day service.

Campaigners against Hillgrove Cat Farm were hoping Home Secretary Jack Straw and farmer Christopher Brown would make an appearance at St Kenelm's Church, in Minster Lovell, near Witney. But in the event neither Mr Straw, who has a home in the village, nor Mr Brown turned up.

About 30 demonstrators set up camp outside the church from 7.30am. Armed with banners and makeshift crucifixes featuring painted cats nailed to crosses, they smiled at the congregation entering the churchyard, wishing some "Good Morning" and "Happy Easter" but haranguing others who voiced disapproval of the protest.

It was thought Mr Straw might read a lesson at the Easter service in St Kenelm's. In fact, he secretly visited another church in Oxfordshire.

But anti-Hillgrove campaign spokesman Greg Jennings, 31, said: "As far as I am concerned it is a total victory. We have come down here to talk to the Home Secretary and I can't believe he has ducked out. It shows how much he has to hide.

"Neither he nor Mr Brown had the nerve to turn up here and answer our questions.

"Jack Straw has a holiday cottage here, but a quarter of a mile across the fields thousands of cats are waiting to die. We are highlighting the hypocrisy."

Story date: Monday 05 April

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