HORRIFIC TRUTH OF 'FREE-RANGE' EGGS

INSIDE these cramped farm sheds, thousands of hens live in darkness, laying egg after egg next to bin bags full of dead birds.

- NADA FARHOUD

Many of the hens are bloodied and bald, having plucked out their own feathers due to stress.

Few have access to fresh water and some are even missing their feet.

It is a vision that would horrify the 70% of us who only buy free-range eggs after hearing horror stories about the cruel living conditions of caged birds.

Consumers pay more for free-range produce because they believe the birds are well cared for and happy hens produce better, more nutritious eggs.

But these images show the heartbreaking reality at three leading freerange egg producers, which supply most major supermarkets and hold

RSPCA Assured accreditation. Animal Justice Project, which obtained the footage, launched its probe as all major UK retailers have pledged to exclusively sell cage-free eggs by 2025.

To be classed as free-range, rules state that hens must have continuous daytime access to outdoor space.

But Animal Justice Project claims that far from roaming freely, "these hens were trapped within overcrowded sheds with their basic needs neglected".

The rules also state that farms can house up to 2,500 birds per hectare.

But the organisation says that in reality, that means up to 16,000 hens can be crammed into a shed.

That equates to nine hens per square metre or the equivalent of putting 14 people in a one-bedroom flat.