GREEN Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas is demanding an immediate limit of eight hours for all journeys undertaken by farm animals destined for slaughter or "further fattening".

Dr Lucas, a member of the European Parliament's Environment Committee, is calling on the European Commission to follow the advice of its own scientific advisors - and the wishes of the European Parliament - and implement an immediate ban on all journeys in excess of eight hours.

She said: "The Commission is dragging its feet shamefully on this issue more than a year since its own scientific advisors warned that negative impact on animal welfare increases with increasing journey times."

She stressed: "Farm animals continue to endure the suffering and distress caused by lengthy unregulated journeys.

"Not only is this a slap in the face for farm animals and consumer wishes, it also runs contrary to the expressed demands of the European Parliament, a majority of member states' governments, and the Commission's own scientists."