AN ANIMAL rights protest was held in Salisbury this afternoon to oppose warfare experiments involving animals carried at Porton Down.

It has been organised by pressure group Animal Justice Project.

The protest was held in the Guildhall Square and is expected to continue outside the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory run by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) from around 4pm.

Claire Palmer, a spokeswoman for Animal Justice Project, said: "Over seventy people have come together to make a stand against animal experiments at Porton Down.

"It has been carried out peacefully, as expected. People young and old, from all over the country, are here. This laboratory must listen and end its abhorrent warfare research on animals". 

Campaigners are calling for the MOD to stop experiments on animals and claim thousands of animals have already been killed in experiments.

Speaking to the Journal yesterday ahead of the protest, Claire said: "We are gathering this weekend in Salisbury and outside of the Porton Down laboratory itself to send a loud and clear message to the Ministry of Defence that it must end the cruel and futile experiments being carried out on animals inside this secretive laboratory, and instead fund humane and modern non-animal based research.

"Our research has shown over the years that similar experiments are being carried out on rabbits, guinea pigs and other animals. Over and over.

"To keep exposing live animals deliberately to viruses, simulated blast injuries, and biological pathogens is unjust and we urge the people of Salisbury to stand with us also this weekend so that together we can create a more compassionate world for all."

Government information online says it is committed to reducing experiments on animals at Porton Down.

But the same gov.uk website also defends the use of animals for finding scientific breakthroughs which have helped the NHS and armed forces.

A MoD spokesperson said: "Dstl is responsible for developing new vaccines, therapies and treatments that can save the lives of our personnel and protect civilians and which could not, currently, be achieved without the use of animals in research.

"We are committed to reducing the number of experiments on animals and Dstl only applies for a licence if their research cannot be achieved without them."