Animal test demo at laboratories

Campaigners from Swat believe their protests are making an impact

A protest against animal testing at laboratories has passed peacefully.

About 100 people from the Stop Wickham Animal Testing (Swat) group marched through the Hampshire town on Saturday.

One protester said: "It's a passionate subject and it's no crime to be passionate or emotional about something that is really quite cruel."

A spokesman for Wickham Laboratories said it recognised the right of people to protest but said its staff should not suffer "hindrance or intimidation".

One arrest

The company said the work carried out at the lab "is legal, licensed and required under UK legislation".

Campaigners from Swat said they believe their protests are making an impact and plan to continue them.

Insp Shaun Moore said: "I am pleased to say that the demonstration passed off peacefully and that there were no public order incidents.

"We have always said that the majority of people who protest at Wickham do so peacefully and within the law, and I am happy to say that that was the case."

A 43-year-old man from the Fareham area was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. No other arrests were made.