Queen guitarist Sir Brian May and actor Peter Egan have joined the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) in opposing plans to build a facility in Yorkshire to breed beagle dogs for experiments.

May appealed to Secretary of State Greg Clark - who has final say over the plans - saying 'There is no justification for forcing dogs to suffer in experiments. Please do the right thing and reject these cruel plans'. Egan commented 'The fate of hundreds of dogs hangs in the balance. With science moving away from crude animal tests, it makes no sense to approve these plans and consign man’s best friend to a life of suffering in the laboratory'.