A Wakefield pig farmer is accused of 'Kung-fu kicking' a Meat the Victims activist and has been captured on camera threatening to shoot others.
The incident took place at Hall Green Farm in Wakefield on July 30, when more than a dozen Meat the Victims activists went to the property to protest against the "disgusting and inhumane" conditions pigs are kept in at Willow Farm Products Ltd.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has since said it is unable to confirm whether any concerns had been raised regarding the conditions animals are kept in on the farm.
Video footage from the incident shows a huddle of animal rights activists inside a shed as a group of people, believed to be farm employees, walk towards them in the early hours of the morning.
One man, believed to be a farmworker, then shouts at the group whilst brandishing a metal bar in their direction.
"Get the f**k out now," he warns, before going on to threaten the group.
"All of you get out, otherwise I will wrap this f**king bar round your f**king heads."
In another, different video clip filmed separately you can see the man approaching other members of the group before threating them again.
"I'll tell you now, if you're not f**king gone within two minutes I'm going to get a gun and f**king shoot you all," he says, before seemingly leaping down an aisle and 'kung-fu kicking' one of the activists in the back - causing them to crash to the ground.
Meat The Victims claim that pigs are "covered in their own waste and they have no choice but to s**t and sleep where they stand.
He then appears to hit a second activists who is stood against a wall. He then can be seen telling them to "get the f*** out" before being pulled away by a co worker.
As if this wasn't enough, further footage shows him push another man to the ground whilst saying "get on your f***ing face" and punch another person stood in the road on a nearby estate.
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "Police were called to a farm at Hollingthorpe Lane, Hall Green, Wakefield, at around 5.15am on Saturday (31st July 2021) following reports of an assault.
"Officers attended at the address and found a number of people present nearby. Following enquiries a man was arrested on suspicion of four offences of assault.
"The arrested man was later released under investigation and enquiries remain ongoing."
Farm owner Caroline Medforth was contacted for comment by Yorkshire Live but did not want to speak on the matter.
News
Football Focus cancelled by the BBC after more than half a century
In a fairly big bit of British broadcasting news, Football Focus is ending after more than half a century on our screens.
Announced on Thursday, 23 April, the once flagship show and weekly TV guide staple for countless domestic households is set to be cancelled after 52 seasons' worth of coverage.
With BBC Sport confirming the tough decision in a lengthy statement, the long-running show will be taken off the air at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
Most programmes like these have seen declining audiences across the board in the era of streaming and digital packages across various platforms, but this is truly the end of an era.
An incredible 52-year journey comes to an end.
Following extensive consideration, BBC Sport has made the difficult decision to say goodbye to Football Focus at the end of this season.
First broadcast in 1974, Football Focus is a testament to the brilliant team who have… pic.twitter.com/bmHQqQdf6J
An official social media post reads: "An incredible 52-year journey comes to an end. Following extensive consideration, BBC Sport has made the difficult decision to say goodbye to Football Focus at the end of this season. "First broadcast in 1974, Football Focus is a testament to the brilliant team who have worked on it over the years and, of course, the audience. The programme has been a staple of the BBC’s football coverage for decades, providing fans with interviews, analysis and stories from across the game ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.
"But changing audience behaviours means fans are now increasingly consuming football content in different ways, and we need to respond appropriately as we face difficult decisions around how the licence fee is spent."
Second only really to Match of the Day (MotD), which first began a whole decade prior to its once equally popular spin-off, Gary Lineker, Manish Bhasin, Alex Scott and others have all enjoyed varying periods hosting the regular weekend watch.
While even MotD has seen steadily dipping viewing figures, not just following the Lineker departure/saga, but ever since YouTube highlights and the social media era.
They go on to add: "Fans are accessing discussion, highlights, analysis and news through digital platforms and on-demand viewing, and as viewing habits continue to evolve, it is right that BBC Sport adapts how it brings football coverage to the widest audiences across television, radio, online and to its extensive social platforms. BBC Sport boasts a strong football rights portfolio and is set to significantly expand its digital output this year, growing content across BBC platforms, as well as a bold new slate of exclusive shows on YouTube.
"Featuring fresh formats, big personalities and more frequent, always-on content tailored for digital audiences, the expansion will bring fans closer to the game than ever before, delivering more high-quality, accessible and engaging football coverage at scale. We will release further details on these plans in the coming months."
Will you miss it? Perhaps more to the point, do you still watch Match of the Day, Soccer Saturday and the like on terrestrial telly here in the UK?
Farmer Copleys bans dogs from popular Tulip Festival after tragic death of beloved pet
Daisy Jackson
Farmer Copleys, which is behind the popular Tulip Festival attraction, has spoken out after the tragic death of a dog who visited last weekend.
The family-run farm has decided to ban dogs (with the exception of service dogs) from its site, after a visitor reported that her beloved springer spaniel Bobby had died just hours after attending the Tulip Festival.
It's believed that Bobby had eaten a tulip bulb or flower, which can be deadly to dogs.
Farmer Copleys has now shared a statement about the incident, writing that the team are 'deeply saddened' by the animal's death.
They stressed that while the exact cause of his death remains unknown, they 'do not wish to take any further risks' and will no longer be permitting dogs at the Tulip Festival.
"The safety and wellbeing of all our visitors and their pets is something we take extremely seriously," Farmer Copleys wrote in a statement shared today.
Customers who are no longer able to attend since the change are welcome to get in touch with the farm directly to discuss a refund.
And assistance dogs are still welcome, but owners will need to sign a disclaimer before taking them into the Tulip Festival.
Farmer Copleys tulip festival is one of the most popular events in Yorkshire every springDogs will no longer be allowed at the Tulip Festival
Farmer Copleys wrote: "We are deeply saddened by the recent incident involving a visitor’s dog following a visit to our Tulip Festival, and our thoughts remain with the owner at this difficult time.
"We must stress while the exact cause of this incident remains unknown, many flowers and plants in outdoor environments can pose risks to dogs if ingested, particularly the bulb, and we do not wish to take any further risk.
"The safety and wellbeing of all our visitors and their pets is something we take extremely seriously. As a precautionary measure, we have made the difficult decision to no longer permit dogs at our Tulip Festival for the remainder of the season.
"In addition, this has further reinforced our decision to close the pick your own area for the remainder of the festival.
"We understand this may be disappointing for some visitors. Any customers who have booked and are now unable to attend due to this change are welcome to contact us regarding a refund at info@farmercopleys.co.uk.
"We are undertaking a full investigation and make a decision on 2027’s season in due course."
Georgina Pellant -
9th August 2021 
