A woman from Kent was among 14 people arrested after animal rights activists blocked access to four McDonald’s distribution centres.

Kiera Ilett-Jones, of Albemarle Road, Beckenham, was taken in by police after a protest in Basingstoke, Hampshire and has since been charged with aggravated trespass.

Animal Rebellion used vehicles and bamboo structures to prevent lorries from leaving depots there, plus in Hemel Hempstead, Coventry and Heywood in Greater Manchester on Saturday.

The group is demanding McDonald’s commits to becoming fully plant-based by 2025.

Hampshire Police said officers arrested eight people on suspicion of aggravated trespass in relation to the protest at an industrial estate off Houndmills Road in Basingstoke.

They have since been charged with aggravated trespass and “watching or besetting a house or place to compel the abstention or doing of a lawful act, an offence under Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992”.

Ilett-Jones, who is 24, have been released on conditional bail to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on June 8.

"The meat and dairy industry is destroying our planet."

Ch Insp Matt Reeves said: “Everyone has the right to free speech and protest, however, officers will take necessary action against the few who deliberately choose to act outside the law.”

Hertfordshire Police said six people were also arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, criminal damage and intimidating behaviour.

Animal Rebellion spokesman James Ozden said protests at Coventry and Heywood ended voluntarily at 10am and 4am on Sunday, respectively.

The protest at Hemel Hempstead was cleared by police at around 3am while the Baskingstoke demonstration ended at about 2am.

Mr Ozden said around 100 people took part in the protests and claimed the action disrupted an estimated 1,900 lorries.

He added: "We’ve also got a report from someone in Manchester that they experienced limited McDonald’s breakfast items due to the protest.”

Greater Manchester Police and West Midlands Police said they made no arrests.

A McDonald’s UK spokesperson said: “Our distribution centres have reopened and are now back to delivering to our restaurants.”

Mr Ozden said the action was aimed at criticising the animal agriculture industry for its part in the global climate crisis.

He said: “The meat and dairy industry is destroying our planet: causing huge amounts of rainforest deforestation, emitting immense quantities of greenhouse gases and killing billions of animals each year.

“The only sustainable and realistic way to feed 10 billion people is with a plant-based food system.

“Organic, free-range and ‘sustainable’ animal-based options simply aren’t good enough.”

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