12 activists charged with animal rights break-ins

Twelve people have been charged with burglary after two alleged break-ins at a research animal breeding facility in which five dogs were taken.

Cambridgeshire Police said officers were called to reports of burglaries and dogs being taken from MBR Acres in Wyton at 5am on Sunday, and 3am on Monday. The force said that the dogs taken from the facility had yet to be recovered.

Twelve people, aged between 20 and 52, are due to appear at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court. MBR Acres has been the target of anti-vivisection protests in the past, including one in November involving the singer Will Young.