by Jessica Banham

Kent campaigners who want to see a maximum eight-hour journey time brought in for live animal exports have now got the backing of Europe.

It follows a series of protests at the Port of Ramsgate where thousands of calves and sheep continue to be exported to the continent.

Thanet MP Laura Sandys urged all UK MEPs to sign a European Parliament Written Declaration calling for the limit to be imposed.

Now, after almost 400 MEPs showed their support, it has become an official position of the European Parliament.

Ms Sandys said: "It’s a great step forward. It’s now a combination of putting pressure on the actual European Commission themselves and I’ve got a meeting in the next couple of weeks in Brussels with the Commission.

"We’ve got the political will from the MEPs and MPs here, so now it’s a sort of pincer movement."

The live exports trade, which is at present legal, is controlled by EU regulations.

Meanwhile, the RSPCA, Thanet Council and Compassion in World Farming have formed a joint working group to try and find a way to end the trade completely.

The RSPCA intends to seek permission from the port authorities to allow its inspectors into the port to cut down on abuse.

Gavin Grant, Chief Executive of the RSPCA, said: "There will be zero tolerance of animal abuse from the Port of Ramsgate.

"We will be putting together a programme of work to ensure this happens and give due notice to the hauliers and shippers that if we find causes of animal abuse we will prosecute them.

"The reality is that animals, sometimes just weeks old, are being shipped out of Ramsgate to face long journeys across Europe only to be slaughtered or reared in conditions which could be illegal here.

"The RSPCA, Thanet District Council, the people of this community and country do not support this trade.

"Sadly it is still legal - something we want to change. The RSPCA is going to work with all of these groups to ensure that animals are not abused while this trade continues."

Legally some animals can spend 24 hours on board a lorry without a break, in temperatures of up to 35C and can be packed in so tightly they cannot lie down or reach food and water.