Ban cruelty, says O'Sullevan

Sir Peter O'Sullevan, the racing commentator, will lead a protest against live animal exports today when he delivers a petition calling for a ban on live exports to Elliot Morley, the animal welfare minister. About 800,000 signatures have been collected by Compassion in World Farming, the animal rights campaigners.

Sir Peter, 79, said: "This inhumane trade in living creatures should be banned forthwith."

To coincide with the petition, the group is releasing video footage of animals being handled roughly in foreign abattoirs, and evidence that EU rules on resting and watering animals in transit are being flouted.