RECENTLY I found out where the duck meat that we see in supermarkets comes from and I was completely shocked.

I had always assumed that ducks lived in the wild, but the truth is that they are factory farmed.

Genetically manipulated to grow very big very quickly, they are crammed into huge, windowless sheds with no fresh air, no daylight and no water to bathe, swim and play in.

Viva!, the animal charity, recently visited several duck farms and saw dejected animals everywhere, some could barely walk due to leg problems, others has fallen on their backs and were unable to get up again.

The terror, misery and pain they must endure in their seven-week life has to be seen to be believed.

Everyone loves to see ducks swimming happily on ponds and everyone, at some stage, must have enjoyed feeding these wonderful birds.

For the millions of ducks kept inside factory farms, life is very different.

I joined the vegetarian charity Viva! and support SCOFF! - the Schools' Campaign Opposed to Factory Farming - to try and save lives by telling people how animals such as ducks are treated inside intensive farms.

Please do not buy duck meat.

Instead, contact Viva! for some delicious vegetarian recipes.

If any reader wants further information about ducks or some delicious cruelty-free recipes, then they can contact Viva! at 12 Queen Square, Brighton, BN1 3FD.

Emily Duckworth (aged 12), East Street, Farington

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.