ANIMAL rights extremists yesterday widened their campaign of terror with two more nail bomb attacks on unsuspecting addresses.

A total of nine explosive devices have now been sent to people involved with the animal trade across the North - including two in North Yorkshire.

The latest two were sent to an agricultural supply shop, in Sheffield, and a charitable organisation in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.

Army experts made the bombs safe and no one was hurt.

No group has yet claimed responsibility, but police are convinced animal rights extremists are behind the attacks.

Seven police forces are involved in the hunt for the terrorists in a major investigation being overseen by detectives from North Yorkshire.

The man in charge, Deputy Chief Constable Peter Walker, said last night: "Yet again, we have indiscriminate attacks on law-abiding people.

"How volunteers working for a charity can be viewed as a legitimate target in a bombing campaign is beyond me."

As well as attacks in Ripon and Masham, bombs have been sent to addresses in Cheshire, Humberside, North Wales, the West Midlands and Northumbria, and so far three people have been injured.

A woman at an estate agents in Patrington, East Yorkshire, suffered serious eye injuries after opening a letter containing a device. The firm was said to deal with livestock auctions.

In the Ripon attack, in January, a farmer suffered facial injuries after he opened a package containing nails.

A week earlier, a letter bomb was sent to the owner of a pest control business, in Congleton, Cheshire. It was opened by the owner's six-year-old daughter, who suffered leg wounds.