A TELEVISION presenter's accusation that Thirsk residents knowingly harboured a non-stun abattoir where animals were cruelly mistreated have been branded "ignorant" by the son of James Herriot author Alf Wight.

Selina Scott, who lives near Malton in North Yorkshire, has accused the nearby town of Thirsk of “hypocrisy” for promoting its association with James Herriot while “harbouring a non-stun abattoir”.

In a letter to The Times newspaper, she wrote the “town of Thirsk should hang its head in shame” adding: “The hypocrisy of the town’s promotion of All Creatures Great and Small and the encouraging of visitors to take part in the James Herriot experience while harbouring a non-stun abattoir is despicable.”

Jim Wight, Alf Wight’s son reacted furiously to the comments, saying local people had no idea of what was happening inside the abattoir. The World of James Herriot museum in Thirsk has also said its own manager was among those protesting outside the abattoir when the news of the mistreatment of animals was revealed.

This month four staff at the former Bowood Abattoir at Busby Stoop, near Thirsk received suspended prison sentences for causing suffering to sheep as they were killed.

Covert video footage obtained by the charity Animal Aid in December 2014 from inside the halal abattoir showed two slaughter men singing and dancing as they killed sheep. Workers were shown picking up animals and smashing them into the machinery while one worker was filmed hacking at the throat of a conscious sheep.

Strict regulations on halal slaughter - that animals must be given 30 seconds to lose consciousness after being killed with a single cut to the throat – were ignored. The video showed animals left between one and 11 seconds before being strung up fully conscious by their back legs on to the next stage of the processing line.

The slaughter men, Kazam Hussain, 44 and Kabir Hussain, 55, of Bradford, West Yorkshire and Artur Lewandowski, 33, of Darlington received suspended prison sentences.

Owner William Woodward, 32, who now lives in Northamptonshire, was fined £5,080 and given a 20-week suspended prison sentence.

Soon after Animal Aid released its covert footage of animals being abused in the slaughterhouse, local people gathered outside the gates of the building to protest and were joined by animal rights campaigners and other people from across the UK appalled at the brutality revealed in the video. They included The World of James Herriot museum manager Kate Pawlett and two other staff members.

Among the chants, one protester was heard shouting; “What would James Herriot think of this?” at the workers inside the compound.

Jim Wight said of Selina Scott’s comments: “It's a combination of ignorance and sensationalism.

"How on earth she thinks the people of Thirsk could have had anything to do with this is or be aware of what was happening in this slaughterhouse three miles outside the town is beyond me.

“It was an utterly appalling incident at this abattoir. It’s terrible. It’s the last thing the people of Thirsk would have anything to do with.

“The responsibility is from the Foods Standards Agency and vets employed in the abattoir. This is nothing whatsoever to do with the people of Thirsk - to mention my father’s name at all is just ridiculous. It’s got absolutely nothing to do with him at all. My father would have been appalled at what was going on in there.”

“We’re very proud of our animal welfare standards, not just in this country, but in the UK. Our animal welfare standards are second to none, not just in this country but the UK. Yorkshire is no exception; I should know, I was a vet for over 25 years and going around the farmers and seeing how they looked after their animals. It’s no different today.

“Just look at the Great Yorkshire Show and how proud these people are of their animals; they’re polishing their animals – laundering them!

“My father always put the welfare of animals first, before any profit. He wasn’t the world’s best businessman, he was always thinking of the patient. I wish his name had never been mentioned in this, but it’s the people of Thirsk I’m defending.”

A spokesperson from the World of James Herriot said: “At the heart of James Herriot author Alf Wight’s whole ethos and life was animal welfare.

“Selina Scott has issued a sweeping statement about the people of Thirsk, when they were up in arms about the news; there were huge protests from residents and local businesses.”