A man has been released from custody 12 hours after police arrested him for obstructing the highway during a protest at Ramsgate port.

Thanet businessman Reg Bell was held after protesting against animal exports from the port yesterday morning.

The 66-year-old, who received a caution, said: “It seemed an unnecessarily long time to keep me locked up, it was from about 9am to 9pm.

“I was in extensive pain from where they dragged me because I have a frozen right shoulder but they weren’t to know that and I’m not complaining about my treatment.”

Mr Bell has been protesting about the exports since they began at the port.

He said: “There are more shipments taking place at the moment and my conscience dictated that I made more of a stand this time than just waving a placard.

“I decided to sit in the road as the lorries approached and police officers asked me to move and I refused so they dragged me out of the way and arrested me.”

But Mr Bell’s experience has not put him off continuing to protest against animal exports from Ramsgate.

He said: “I will be returning to the port for the next protest but I’ll be careful not to be arrested next time.

"I’ve taken part in more than 100 demonstrations at the port and the protesters work very closely with the RSPCA and World Compassion in Farming, and I intend to continue.”