THE foot and mouth crisis may be nearing its end but the suffering for farm animals will go on.

That is the message from VIVA -- Vegetarians International Voice for Animals -- which is launching a national campaign encouraging people to give up eating meat.

The charity says many people have turned against meat because of foot and mouth but reminds shoppers that healthy animals will continue to be killed even after the disease has been eradicated because of demand for pork, beef, lamb and chicken.

More than 2.4 million animals are killed in slaughterhouses in Britain every day, says Viva! and their deaths behind closed doors are worse than on farms. The charity also stresses that a vegetarian diet can also be healthier for humans as well as preventing animal suffering.

Anyone who would like a free Go Veggie pack from Viva!, including recipes, can e-mail vegpack@viva.org.uk or telephone 01273 777688.