AN animal campaign group occupied a dairy aisle at a Poole supermarket campaigning for an end to the industry.

Supporters of Animal Rising demonstrated in front of the milk section in Waitrose in Parkstone.

The group of 14 people sat with placards with phrases such as “we need a plant-based food system – the key solution to the climate crisis”, and “there is an alternative: a kinder, more compassionate world for all” on them.

Read more: Police seize 444 tins of tuna

They protested peacefully for one hour in the aisle on July 15.

The organisation has previously staged other sit-ins at supermarkets and high-end meat restaurants across the country.

It believes that the key to solving the climate crisis and creating a ‘safer and more compassionate’ world is changing the way animals are treated, particularly in the food system.

It recently focused on horse-racing, disrupting the Grand National in April, delaying the main race by 15 minutes.

Daniel Glennon, 51, a customer service trainer from Bournemouth said: “I'm taking action with Animal Rising today because the dairy industry contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions - almost doubling that of aviation.

“In addition, millions of acres of British land is given up to grazing for dairy farming.

“If we ended this industry, not only could we save millions of tonnes of CO2, but we could also rewild and restore nature on a massive scale in the UK.

“It is time to end the dairy industry - there are so many more sustainable alternatives available now.”

Read more: Dorset chippy named among top 10

Animal Rising are campaigning for change and government action on animal agriculture’s role in the climate crisis.

Police attended the protest on Saturday to ‘monitor the situation and ensure there was no breach of the peace’.

Officers left the scene after the protestors left the store peacefully, at around 3.35pm.

Waitrose were the first UK retailer to have net-zero-science-based targets validated by The Science Based Targets initiative.

It aims to be net-zero by 2035 in its own operations by 2035, and in its wider supply chain by 2050.

A Waitrose spokesperson said: “We're proud of our industry leading animal welfare standards, and grateful for our Partners who responded quickly and professionally.”