Protesters gathered outside the Port of Ramsgate as a live shipment of veal calves arrived from Scotland headed for slaughter in Spain.

The wide-eyed animals suckled on the hands of protesters as they passed through the town on Tuesday evening ready for a five-hour boat journey to Calais.

The animals, thought to be two weeks old, are allowed to be transported under EU freedom of movement rules.

Campaigner Lilibet Marsh says the practice needs to stop. "They were crying very loudly, we could hear them before they got to the roundabout. They were suckling people's hands for comfort.

I think the live export trade is a barbaric, cruel and outdated trade."

The 22-year-old runs Kent Animal Save and says 90 campaigners arrived to express their anger at the practice which has taken place at the port for a number of years.

Activist Emma Jade Easton says the animals were frightened. "My heart is breaking in a million pieces."

She added: "These four-week-old baby calves, by-products of the dairy industry, have just been driven through the Port of Ramsgate, they have already been loaded for eight hours and they're now continuing their frightening journey, shipped overseas where they'll be slaughtered. "

According to the group there was a single lorry containing around 250 calves which arrived in Ramsgate at around 11.30pm

"The calves were as to be expected, very young and frightened, I think the live export trade is a barbaric, cruel and outdated trade.

Live exports have come under fire in recent years with South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay vowing to stop the trade after Brexit.

A spokesman from the British Veterinary Association said: "Wherever possible, animals should be transported on the hook, as meat, not on the hoof, as live animals.”

At the height of protests at Ramsgate, the costs of policing demonstrations for 60 sailings in the 18 months to the end of 2012 was £405,043.

Thanet council went to court to try to halt exports but in 2015 was forced to pay £2.3m in compensation to companies who were blocked from exporting live animals from the Port of Ramsgate.