Animal welfare watchdogs have confirmed they are checking out allegations of breaches of regulations at a pig farm in Piddlehinton.

Investigators from the vegetarian pressure group Viva! who visited Bourne Farm on 1 November say they found examples of neglect.

Pictures taken at the farm show dead and rotting piglets inside units, sows kept in crates which were too small, pigs kept in pens with no bedding and animals in an obvious state of suffering.

The group claims the images, which were filmed by investigators when they gained entry to the commercial farm owned by Allen Hanford Ltd of Wallingford, Oxfordshire, show the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations 2003 were not being followed.

Justin Kerwell of Viva! said he believed the discoveries indicate systemic failings at the farm.

"They're meant to clear away dead animals within 48 hours which I believe is not happening. There also seems to be no bedding down for fattening animals, which is possibly against the law.

"Without having a camera there 24 hours a day, it's hard to say if this is endemic at the farm, but it's in line with what we've found at other farms around the country.

"I have sent the footage to both trading standards and the duty vet for the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs. The trading standards officer visited the farm after talking to me and I understand he has made another visit, which suggests it is taking it quite seriously.

"The footage we shot inside the farm is shocking and repugnant, but it's sadly typical of what we expect to find right across the country when welfare is barely given a thought.

"We hope that the authorities will take our concerns seriously and prosecute if they find the law has been broken. Sadly, prosecutions for cruelty are rare."

A Defra spokesman said: "We never comment on individual investigations. However, I can confirm that all reports of welfare breaches are investigated.

"Any investigation will be private and a report made to the operator or company concerned.

"In the event of a prosecution being required this will be brought by Trading Standards."

Bourne Farm was previously investigated in May 2005 by officials after rotting animal carcasses were discovered in an open pit near the farm. Officials from the Environment Agency and Dorset Trading Standards went to the farm after walkers came across around ten dead pigs in a pit with piles of rubbish.

THERE was no-one available at Allen Hanford Ltd for comment yesterday as the Western Gazette went to press.