ANIMAL TRANSPORT: Storm over live exports

A long running controversy over the transportation of live animals on ferries between England and France returned, with animal rights activists protesting outside Dover Eastern Docks after the National Farmers Union said it would prefer to see live exports going through the port. Exports from nearby Ramsgate using former Lithuanian river ferry Joline (1988/642gt) were stopped by Thanet District Council after September incidents when 45 sheep died. But the decision was challenged by a Dutch company, and the High Court served the council with an interim order to allow the transport of live animals until a judicial review.