Protestors fail to halt historic sheep drive

ANIMAL RIGHTS protesters failed to ruin the opening day of a London Architecture event which saw a historic sheep drive through the streets of the city, organisers said.

A parade of 60 Herdwick sheep was accompanied by farmer Andrew Sharp and 17 liverymen of the Worshipful Company of Butchers as they crossed over the Millennium Bridge on route from Borough market to Smithfield market. The sheep drive was part of the launch of the London Architecture Biennale (LAB), which this year celebrated changes in architecture throughout the city.

Speaking for the LAB, Lucy Wilson said animal rights activists standing nearby called out that driving sheep over a bridge was evil and the Salvation Army band was unable to play music outside because demonstrators had threatened them with violent behaviour. However, she stressed, the protesters did not stop the day being a success.

Wilson said: "Livestock were driven to market as recently as the nineteenth century so the event highlighted the huge changes that have taken place in the urban landscape since then, flagging up the relationship between London's layout and food distribution, joining as it does the two most fashionable 'larders' of the city today."

Anthony Morrow, clerk of the Worshipful Company of Butchers, said the sponsored sheep drive exercised their rights as freemen of the city and raised money for the Worshipful Company of Butcher's royal charter appeal, which this year celebrated its four hundredth anniversary..

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