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Animal rights activists have scaled the roof of a nationwide beef industry event in protest in opposition to the meat industry.
The demonstration, which started within the early hours of Saturday, is alleged to have resulted in a single protester being taken to hospital after chaos unfolded exterior Darlington Farmers Auction Mart (DFAM) in County Durham.
Photos confirmed masked activists from the Animal Justice Project (AJP) standing on the roof of the constructing holding banners and spraying colored smoke flares.
A spokesperson for the group stated campaigners have been left “covered in excrement” after one event attender allegedly used a sprayer to blast manure at them.
The National Beef Association (NBA), which is organising the expo going down this weekend, describes it as a celebration of one of the best of British beef, drawing in at least 5,000 visitors yearly.
The AJP stated its protest was “peaceful” and “silent” and aimed at highlighting “farmed animal suffering and environmental safety concerns”.
Police have been on the scene since 5am working to carry the demonstration to an finish.
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An AJP spokesperson advised PA: “We’ve been sprayed with cow poo by one farmer using a machine.
“It has been a peaceful protest and a silent protest and we are overwhelmed and outnumbered by hundreds of angry farmers.”
A spokesperson for the NBA claimed there was a “wonderful atmosphere” at the event and didn’t remark additional on the protest.
Durham police stated: “Our officers are working to bring the protest to a safe end and to minimise the impact on the wider community.”
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