Published 31/05/2012

Joanna Lumley has renewed her call for an end to live animal exports from Ramsgate, Kent, one year after they started up from the port.

The actress and long time Compassion in World Farming Patron, has supported the charity's drive against the trade since its terrible heyday in the mid 1990s. Ramsgate is the only British port currently used for live exports to the continent.

According to figures obtained by Compassion, last year saw a resurgence in live exports from Britain to the continent, with more than 80,000 animals going through the port.

Joanna says: "It's unbelievable that we are still sending young and vulnerable calves on exhausting and stressful journeys to destinations as far away as Spain. How can we possibly call ourselves a compassionate society when we allow this abhorrent trade to continue?"

She adds: "Our government and our EU partners must take urgent action to end this scandalous trade."

There has been fierce opposition to live exports from Ramsgate since exporters started using the port in May last year, including from Thanet District Council, which actually owns the port but says it is unable to stop the legal trade.

We believe an eight hour limit to all animal transport for fattening and slaughter would effectively end live exports from Britain. It would certainly stop the unacceptably long journeys, like a recent consignment of calves, trailed by Compassion's investigators, which went from Devon to Spain.

Compassion's Director of Public Affairs, Dil Peeling, says: "This is a sad anniversary, as it marks another year of this despicable trade but it allows us to take stock, thank local Kent campaigners for their work in opposing these exports and realise that we have momentum behind us and are close to ending live exports from Ramsgate.

"We have been campaigning for decades against live exports and, with the help of exceptional people like Joanna Lumley, and the support of the vast majority of the public, we shall succeed."

Find out more:

• Find out more about the EU-wide fight for an eight hour limit to all live animal exports