ANIMAL activists stormed into a steakhouse and asked diners to think about what they were eating.

Brighton members of Direct Action Everywhere, an international grassroots network of animal rights activists, entered Touro Steakhouse in West Street, Brighton, on Saturday night.

About 20 of them held signs with photos of animals that were being served up in the steakhouse with placards saying “It’s not food, it’s violence” and “Until every animal is free”.

One of the activists gave a speech urging customers to question their food, saying: “No good person could look into the eyes of an animal and think that a meal was more important than their suffering.”

The vegans then played recorded audio of animals being slaughtered in an attempt to put people off eating.

The activists stood around the restaurant with the animal recordings making customers “listen to their screams”.

The activists persisted for half an hour then continued the demonstration outside shouting: “What do we want? Animal liberation! When do we want it? Now”.

A spokeswoman for Direct Action Eveywhere Brighton, said: “In a time where we are experiencing mass environmental destruction, largely due to our unsustainable and unethical food choices, it is paramount that we put our egos and selfishness aside and accept that we are all connected.

“Over 70 billion farm animals are reared for food globally every year, most of these intensively.

“Animal exploitation has become so normalised it goes virtually unnoticed but we are paying attention. People and business should not enjoying the product or profit of animal suffering.”

Madsu Sudan Galtam, manager at Touro said: “They came in and started shouting about animals and holding some signs.

“They didn’t do anything aggressive but it was a bit annoying because it disrupted everyone. We did make a phone call to the police but they never arrived.”