A HEREFORDSHIRE firm under siege from animal rights activists has been backed by area MP Peter Temple-Morris.

Mr Temple-Morris says he is ready to 'help in any way' staff at the Quintiles laboratory, Ledbury, which has been the target of a long-running protest campaign.

Long concerned at the conduct of demonstrations outside the lab, the member for Leominster says intimidation has now taken a nasty new turn.

"There have been instances at homes of individual employees which amount to unnecessary and aggressive interference with their private lives".

A police action plan to protect the site is in place, including specific security arrangements for staff. But some have turned to the MP for added assistance.

"I stand ready to help in any way I can - and remain open to any approaches about this from constituents or from Quintiles," says Mr Temple-Morris.