ANIMAL welfare activists have been protesting outside a County Durham slaughterhouse.

Members of The North East Animal Save group stood with a large banner which read Slaughterhouse outside JA Jewitt (Meat) Ltd, an abattoir at Low House Farm, Spennymoor, on Monday.

Protestor, Colleen Minto, 30, said the group was peacefully protesting every fortnight at different slaughterhouses across the region to raise awareness of the issue.

Fellow protestor, Amanda Hall, 30, added: "We are raising awareness of the plight of animals which are suffering and of the vegan diet."

She added: "We have just been showing the animals coming in some love."

A spokesman for the family-run company declined to comment on the protest.