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The Battle of Brightlingsea

Why did an Essex town become the centre of national attention for 10 months in 1995?

Between January and October 1995, the north-east Essex seaside town of Brightlingsea found itself in the national spotlight.

When bigger ports elsewhere in the country closed, farmers and exporters wanted to use the port of Brightlingsea to ferry live sheep and calves to Europe to be slaughtered.

What followed saw local residents, animal rights campaigners and police clashing on an almost daily basis.

Elliot Deady looks back at the events of 30 years ago...

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8 minutes