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The Herne Bay and Whitstable Animal Rights Group has won a campaign to ban the sale of frogs legs from the Herne Bay Safeway's superstore. Animal Rights Group Secretary Mrs Eileen Chambers said last week her organisation was backing a protest against the import of frogs' legs from India because of alleged horrific cruelty to the frogs. The World Society for Protection of Animals has led the campaign, saying the legs were cut off at the waist while the frogs were still conscious. The top half is then discarded and allowed a slow and lingering death among a mass of other dying frogs, the Society claims.

Last week Mrs Chambers told the Gazette that Safeway stores were selling the legs and said her members believed it was a trade in cruelty. Manager Mr Clive Salkind denied his Herne Bay store stocked the legs. They were sold only in central London stores which catered for a more cosmopolitan taste, he added. But Mrs Chambers then investigated and found the 1.79 pound sterling packed frogs' legs in the freezer compartment of the store. Mr David Jones, the Herne Bay assistant manager, told the Herne Bay Gazette this week Mr Salkind honestly believed his store did not sell frogs' legs from India. "We found they were from India and now we have stopped selling them. They have been returned to head office." Mrs Chambers said: "We are glad to have won the campaign in Herne Bay."

(Herne Bay Gazette 11.6.84)