Babe may be set to storm the hearts of British kids this Christmas.

The leaflet farmers say could badly hit their business

But the Pig in the City - and especially vegetarian and animal rights groups who are using today's release of the film Babe II to urge people not to eat pork - is less than popular with pig farmers in North Yorkshire.

Supporters of vegetarian and animal rights organisation Viva are handing out leaflets to young people visiting cinemas nationwide to see the sequel to the hit film about a talking pig.

Leaflets handed out as part of their campaign carry the question "Who loves ya, Babe?", and the reply "We do, that's why we don't eat ya".

But local farmer John Rowbottom, of the British Pig Industry Support Group, who farms at Melbourne, near Pocklington, said: "It's anthropomorphism gone mad. It really is bloody stupid to base a protest about eating pigmeat around another sloppy, sentimental film that has no basis in reality whatsoever.

"Viva may not give it any thought if they put people out of business, which is what they could possibly do - particularly with the state the pig industry is in at the moment. There are very hardworking people out there who have been contemplating suicide as it is. For something like this to come out is just appalling."

"To suggest that children don't know that bacon comes from pigs illustrates the mentality of these people."

Hayley Kilmartin, of York Animal Aid, confirmed she had received a bunch of the leaflets from Viva but did not yet know whether they would be distributed at local cinemas.

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