A CAMPAIGN group revealed last night that it is to stage a series of demonstrations today at branches of a chemical firm, including one on Teesside.

Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (Shac) was set up in protest against the practices of Huntingdon Life Sciences, which carries out tests on animals.

In recent years, the company, based at Huntingdon, near Cambridge, has attracted controversy over its alleged inhumanity.

Today's demonstrations are taking place at all six branches of Dow Chemicals, which uses HLS to test its materials.

Campaign spokesman Joseph Dawson said: "We have consulted with Dow's head office in America over the past couple of months and they have brushed us off.

"Today is about showing them that they can't get away with it.

"A number of other companies have pulled out of HLS when they were targeted, and Dow is going to get demonstrations until they do the same."

Mr Dawson said people living near the Teesside branch, on the ICI Wilton site, may be unaware of its practices.

He said: "What we find with these demonstrations is that once local people realise the company is involved in animal testing, they are disgusted to have it on their doorstep."

The Teesside demonstration takes place outside the site's main gates, from noon.