Animal rights activists have climbed the roof of a national meat industry event in protest against the meat industry.
The protest, which began in the early hours of Saturday, is said to have caused a protester to be taken to hospital after chaos broke out outside Darlington Farmers Auction Mart (DFAM) in Durham County.
The photos showed masked Animal Justice Project (AJP) activists standing on the roof of the building with banners and sprinkling colored smoke flares.
A spokesman for the group said the activists were left “covered in excrement” after an event attendee allegedly used a sprayer to throw manure at them.
The National Beef Association (NBA), which is organizing the exhibition this weekend, describes it as a celebration of the best British meat, attracting at least 5,000 guests a year.
The AJP said its protest was “peaceful” and “silent” and aimed to highlight “the suffering of farm animals and environmental safety issues”.
Police have been on the scene since 5 a.m. working to end the rally.
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An AJP spokesman told PA: “A farmer sprayed us with cow dung with a machine.
“It has been a peaceful protest and a silent protest and we are overwhelmed and outnumbered by hundreds of angry farmers.”
An NBA spokesman said there was a “wonderful atmosphere” at the event and did not comment further on the protest.
Durham police said: “Our officers are working to end the protest and minimize the impact on the community at large.”