Euro-MP Chris Huhne says a new law could help to alleviate the suffering of millions of animals transported across Europe (The Argus, July 24).

How many times have we heard journey times are to be cut and new measures taken to alleviate the terrible suffering of animals? Yet there have been no new laws.

How could anyone forget what happened at Shoreham harbour in 1995?

The day-old calves with their feet hanging out of the sides of lorries, the poor sheep so tightly packed they were unable to turn around and the drivers of the lorries who could not care less.

How the community fought hard to stop this terrible trade going through our port. Yet this is still going on at Dover and all over Europe. It is not good enough to say journey times should be cut.

The practice should be banned.

Animals should be killed close to the farm where they are reared and sent across Europe by hook not by hoof.

The slaughter houses which were closed should be reopened and the slaughter carried out humanely in the country of origin.

It is up to this government to stick to its pre-election promise to ban live exports.

-Judy Way, Southwick