Calves transported to France for the veal trade may be returned to England if a French vet carries out his threat over what he sees as inadequate feeding provisions at Dieppe.

The British consortium importing the two-week-old animals has been warned that unless a special machine enabling them to suckle is installed by tomorrow, the shipments will be halted, according to an animal welfare specialist.

The move comes after the revelation that calves from the farm owned by William Waldegrave, the Agriculture Minister, had been sold to end their days in veal crates on the Continent.

Full report, page 3