Thousands object to Grimston dog breeding site plan

More than 28,000 people have signed a petition against plans to extend a centre which breeds dogs for research.

B&K Universal, in the East Yorkshire village of Grimston, breeds beagles for animal testing and had sought planning permission to redevelop its facilities.

The company is appealing against a decision by East Riding Council to reject the plans on highways grounds.

Anti-vivisection campaigners lodged the petition to the Planning Inspectorate, which is considering the appeal.

Michelle Thew, from the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (Buav), said: "The Buav urges the Planning Inspectorate to refuse B&K's appeal to build a beagle breeding farm.

"There is widespread public concern about the use of dogs in research which is reflected in the large number of people who have signed the BUAV's petition objecting to B&K's plans.

"This will be a production line with the dogs treated as commercial products, bred to suffer and die in laboratories. Allowing such a facility to go ahead is likely to increase the number of dogs used in research as they will be more readily available.

"This is at odds with public opinion and the recent Government pledge to reduce the numbers of animals in experiments."

No-one from B&K Universal was available for comment.