Two men and a company have appeared in court charged with offences allegedly committed at a west Dorset abattoir.

Benjamin Braiser, 27 and of of Robinswell, Higher Eype, Bradley Loveless, 32 and of Swaines Row, West Bay, and S J Norman Sons, of the abattoir in Mangerton Lane, Bradpole, appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court.

Braiser, who the court heard is the abattoir's business operator, is charged with two counts of contravening a provision of an EU regulation relating to pain, distress and suffering at the time of killing an animal and two of contravening or causing a person to contravene specified paragraphs in a schedule.

Three of the charges relate to an incident on May 29 last year when prosecutors allege multiple shots were required before a cow was effectively stunned. It is also claimed that a cow which had not been effectively stunned and was showing signs of rhythmic breathing was bled anyway, and that a cow on a ramp leading into the plant was stunned, killing it.

It is also alleged that on September 24, 2009, a cow was shot multiple times with a captive bolt without an effective stun being achieved.

Loveless, also a business operator, is charged with contravening a provision of an EU regulation relating to pain, distress and suffering at the time of killing an animal and two of contravening or causing a person to contravene specified paragraphs in a schedule.

Prosecutors allege that on May 29, 2019, he shot an Aberdeen Angus bull on the neck and that he carried out an operation on a cow before it was restrained.

He is also accused of not ensure there were procedures in place for the killing of large animals.

The company itself is charged with three counts of contravening a provision of an EU regulation relating to pain, distress and suffering at the time of killing an animal, one of contravening a provision of an EU regulation at the time of killing an animal and two of contravening or causing a person to contravene specified paragraphs in a schedule.

Not guilty pleas were entered to all charges and the case was adjourned for a management hearing in February.