Fourteen arrests after dogs taken from breeding centre

Animal Rebellion released images of protesters taking the dogs from the facility

Fourteen people have been arrested after a number of dogs were taken from a facility that breeds the animals for laboratory research.

Cambridgeshire Police said officers were called to MBR Acres in Wyton just before 06:00 GMT to reports of a break-in and "a group of protesters at the front gates".

Protest group Animal Rebellion said in a statement that 12 of its supporters had entered the facility and had taken 18 beagles.

The site near Huntingdon has been the subject of a number of protests, including one involving singer Will Young last year.

MBR Acres, pictured earlier this year, has been the site of several protests

Police said three people were arrested on suspicion of burglary at the site, a 29-year-old man from Sheffield, a 23-year-old man from York, and a 33-year-old woman, of no known address.

Nine people from addresses across the UK were also arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass in connection with the protest.

Two others were arrested at Stevenage police station on suspicion of burglary, the force said.

It added: "Our aim is to ensure staff at the site are able to go about their lawful work, while protesters are able to express their views peacefully and safely, within the law."

In photographs released by Animal Rebellion, protesters appeared to pass a dog over the top of a metal fence.

The protest group said in a statement it was “not true” that animal testing was necessary.

"There are better alternatives," it said.

MBR Acres said it was "a fully licensed establishment and a lawful breeder of beagle dogs that are specially bred for human and animal research in an environment compliant with our licences".

In a statement it said it was “appalled by these actions”.