IN July annual statistics were published which outlined how many animals were used in experiments in UK laboratories, their species and the severity of suffering the animals experienced before they were, on the whole, killed. Almost 3.9m animals were used for the first time.

These included mice, fish, dogs, cats, monkeys and horses - each one a living, sentient animal capable of feeling pain and distress.

As well as being cruel, animal experiments are bad science; they do not produce information that can be reliably applied to people.

When the report was published there was some coverage, but as the days and weeks pass, the terrible suffering and dreadful fate of these animals is often forgotten by many people, despite the fact that vivisection is an activity happening at numerous establishments across the country all year around.

Please don't forget the animals who are languishing in laboratories, at this moment, as you read this letter.

Jessamy Korotoga, Anti-vivisection campaign manager