I’M sure many readers will have sympathy with Kidderminster woman Louise Ryan who was arrested for painting slogans and handcuffing herself to the gates at the Labcorp laboratory near Huntingdon in protest at the animal experiments being carried out there (Wheelchair user arrested at lab, February 29).

Louise is correct in her assertion that animal experimentation is both morally wrong and scientifically dubious.

Labcorp’s statement that they treat the animals there “humanely, with care, compassion and respect” is not possible to believe, seeing as the laboratory is licensed to carry out experiments that cause pain.

There are many scientists who would dispute Labcorp’s claim that animal experiments are “critical to developing new, safe and effective medicines, devices and products”.

In any event, it is irrelevant.

The monkeys, beagle dogs, rabbits and other animals imprisoned in their laboratories are not to blame for the diseases and other problems that beset humans so why should those animals be made to suffer and die?

Very few of us would be in a position to carry out the sort of action Louise has taken against animal testing but we can all do our bit by supporting scientific groups that are promoting methods not involving animals such as animalfreeresearchuk.org.

Jane Hargreaves

Stourport