Draw a line under cages (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Draw a line under cages

THE RSPCA is calling on children throughout Wiltshire to design an Easter card to draw attention to the use of battery cages for chickens, which the charity believes are cruel.

It is calling on politicians to support legislation to ban battery cages, which it says cause great suffering to hens.

The charity says that in the UK about 21 million hens are living in battery systems that provide each bird with less space than the size of an A4 piece of paper.

The RSPCA is asking youngsters aged 16 and under to design an Easter card with a simple but strong slogan of not more than ten words reflecting the plight of the birds.

Contest organiser Justine Perrett said: "Although the conventional battery cage is due to be banned across Europe from 2012, the British Government is still discussing whether to allow the use of so-called enriched battery cages.

"These allow only a little more room than conventional battery cages but still do not meet the welfare needs of hens."

The winning card will be professionally printed and delivered to Tony Blair and MPs. In addition, the winning entrant will receive an Easter egg inscribed with their name.

Artwork should be sent by March 12 unfolded in a hardback envelope to Justine Pannett, Easter Card Competition, External Affairs Department, RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS.