ANGRY vegans are demanding that an animal sanctuary cafe ban all meat products from its menu – despite all profits going towards helping vulnerable creatures.

The campaigners have been bombarding Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare with emails and calls asking them to stop killing animals for its cafe.

Its menu includes a full English with bacon and sausage, meaty breakfast baps, ham, egg and chips and beef burgers.

Make Raystede Vegan activists insisted its “meat eating trustees” are betraying the legacy of the late Mabel Raymonde-Hawkins, who founded the sanctuary more than six decades ago in Ringmer, near Lewes.

The animal lover wrote in her book Sensible Pets and Silly People that “It is my view, and that of every decent minded person, that no animal should be made to suffer at all for any reason.”

But sanctuary staff hit back at their argument and pointed out that Miss Raymonde-Hawkins regularly ate fish and enjoyed a range of dairy-based meals.

Vegan campaigner Edward Burbank said: “The meat-eating trustees at Raystede, for their own convenience, have chosen to categorise that slaughter of farmed animals as necessary suffering – despite the fact that animal products are now known to be not only unnecessary but detrimental to human health.

“Certainly no one could call bacon and beef burgers healthy food.

“So how can those in charge at Raystede justify ordering the deaths of the cows and pigs out of whom they were made?”

But the campaigners claim Miss Raymonde-Hawkins was vegan despite never having met her.

And the president of Raystede, who knew the founder for more than 20 years, said she would regularly eat trout, salmon and dairy.

A Raystede spokesman said: “We are aware of a small but ongoing campaign directed at our staff and trustees by instigators who, despite never having had the privilege of meeting our founder, take the position that she was an active vegan.

“Our president, who knew Ms Raymonde-Hawkins for more than 20 years, fondly remembers meals out with her where she would regularly eat trout, salmon and a range of dairy-based meals while she secured funding and legacies from a wide range of supporters.

“We are proud to continue Ms Raymonde-Hawkins’ pioneering work today.

“We welcome visitors to Raystede to see for themselves the positive impact we have on the animals in our care and to experience the support and guidance we offer to the families and pet owners with whom we work.”

Raystede opened its doors in 1952 and re-homes more than 1,000 animals every year.

The centre spans across 43 acres and is said to be a tranquil place where animals receive the support, welfare and sanctuary they need.

The rescue centre is visited by more than 200,000 people every year.

A spokesman added: “We are committed to delivering the highest standards of animal welfare to the animals in our care.”