Why people were protesting outside new Leicester steakhouse restaurant

Animal rights activists staged a protest outside a newly-opened steak restaurant in Leicester city centre today.

Members of Leicester Animal Rights gathered outside the Texas Steakhouse, in Market Street, to speak to passers-by about animal exploitation and the meat trade.

They also wrote a number of slogans in chalk on the ground.

One, with an arrow pointing to the restaurant, read 'Dismembered rotting cow corpses'.

Isabella Rodziewicz, of Leicester Animal Rights, said: "We just wanted to speak to people about the exploitation of animals and this is a steak house.

"Meat consumption is plummeting and people have been grateful for the information we've been offering them today.

Michael French, the restaurant's general manager, said: "We respect people's right to choose, so if people don't want to eat meat they can go somewhere that serves vegan food.

"We're trying to build a business here in Market Street. Would they rather see us go out of business?"