LAST week, Animal Aid released footage taken secretly at three randomly chosen English abattoirs, which offers an unprecedented close-up of the true inner workings of typical British slaughterhouses.

In the stun rooms, we filmed terrified sheep and pigs running in circles, looking for an exit or trying to make themselves invisible behind the hoist.

Two sheep were so desperate to escape that they leapt through the hatch into the slaughter area where they landed in the blood pit below their bleeding and shackled mates.

Many animals were partially stunned and left writhing or convulsing on the floor, while the stun operator ignored their plight. We filmed ewes being stunned while their young suckled them.

The lambs – no bigger than cats – were then stunned, hoisted and had their throats cut. Animals were kicked, hit, goaded, sworn at and stood on. The film we obtained disposes of the myth that slaughter in the UK is, or can ever be, humane.

A 10-minute film and full report documenting the findings of the investigation can be found on animalaid.org.uk.

Kate Fowler, head of campaigns, Animal Aid.