A PEACEFUL protest over the import of monkeys and dogs into Manchester Airport has won support from animal lovers.

Animal rights activists slammed the airport for allowing ‘shameful cargos’ of animals to be flown into the country for research laboratories.

The demonstration on Saturday marked 1,000 long-tailed macques being imported since January.

Northwich Guardian: Animal rights activists have vowed to continue protesting until Manchester Airport stops the import of animals to be used for researchAnimal rights activists have vowed to continue protesting until Manchester Airport stops the import of animals to be used for research

Campaigners say beagles are also regularly flown in for animal testing.

Event organiser Jane Smith, deputy leader of the Animal Welfare Party, said: “We were really pleased with Saturday’s turn-out, which included protesters from as far away as Cambridgeshire.

“We had lots of support from passing drivers who honked or gave us thumbs ups.

“Our demonstration was entirely peaceful and we didn’t cause any disruption at all to passengers, staff or passers-by.

“We were there entirely to raise awareness through peaceful means.

Northwich Guardian: Event organiser Jane Smith, deputy leader of the Animal Welfare PartyEvent organiser Jane Smith, deputy leader of the Animal Welfare Party

“We will keep protesting at Manchester Airport for as long as the airport keeps allowing incoming cargoes of live animals destined for vivisection laboratories.”

Protestors submitted a 1,000-signature petition to Manchester Airport Group, the airport’s owners, asking them to end the cargoes but did not receive a reply.

Sarah Kite, co-founder of Action for Primates, said: "It is shameful that the UK continues to import long-tailed macaques, including from Vietnam and Mauritius, with Manchester Airport the main initial destination.

"Many of the monkeys are used in toxicity testing in contract research laboratories, the deliberate poisoning of monkeys to assess the adverse effects of increasing amounts of a chemical or drug.

"The suffering caused to the monkeys is immense and can cause them serious harm or death.

"We urge Manchester Airport to re-consider its role in facilitating this cruel trade and urge it to ban monkey shipments."

The protest was staged by the Animal Welfare Party and Cheshire Animal Rights Campaign.

A Manchester Airport spokesman said: “We respect people’s right to peaceful protest.”