Battery eggs ban in 5 years

Eggs laid by battery hens crammed into tiny cages will be banned by 2012.

Compassion in World Farming, which has campaigned tirelessly to stop the cruel practice involving 20million chickens, was delighted with the EU's decision to outlaw it.

Its chief executive Phil Lymbery said: "Keeping hens in battery cages is simply one of the cruellest of modern farming practices."

It had been feared the EU ruling to phase out the cages - no bigger than an A4 piece of paper - would be delayed amid objections from Eastern Europe, France and Spain.

But Farming Minister Lord Rooker told an industry conference that battery egg production would be banned in Britain.

Mr Lymbery said: "British consumers don't want eggs from battery cages, as seen by the growing numbers spending more on free range eggs and the Government is supporting that view."

The average Briton eats 172 eggs a year and the industry is worth £550million.