CAMPAIGNERS laid flowers and held banners during a peaceful vigil at a slaughterhouse subject to a government cruelty probe.

A group of 35 people protested outside the Malik Food Group building in Dunnockshaw yesterday.

The vigil, which was organised by Animal Aid and Lancashire Animal Save, came in response to an undercover video which appeared to show sheep having their throats repeatedly hacked.

Animal Aid also said the film shows sheep being manhandled by slaughtermen at the halal abattoir off Burnley Road.

An investigation has been launched by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Slaughterman certificates have been revoked and the FSA has not ruled out criminal proceedings following its inquiry, after reviewing 70 hours of footage.

A Animal Aid spokesman said: “We want to ask caring people everywhere to stop the kind of suffering filmed."