A charitable business which runs recycling plants in Preston has denied a video showing rats being beaten by metal poles was filmed at one of their sites.

Recycling Lives issued the rebuttal after the shocking footage was widely shared across Facebook and other social media platforms.

In the clip, rats are seen running from a pile of recycling, as a number of men swing poles and other instruments at the rats – as well as trying to kick the animals.

You can see the footage below, but a warning it is distressing

https://youtu.be/aVwL8OhpOwI

The footage has been condemned by animal-rights group PETA.

PETA director Elisa Allen said: “Anyone capable of mercilessly kicking and beating small, defenceless rats – who feel pain every bit as much as the dogs and cats we share our homes with – has deep-seated psychological issues.

“Authorities must now act quickly to track these sadists down and throw the book at them before more animals endure a similarly violent death.”

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Preston-based Recycling Lives released a statement in response to allegations in social media posts that the clip was filmed at their Red Scar plant in Longridge Road.

A spokeswoman for Recycling Lives said: “We are aware of footage being shared on social media alleging to show an incident at one of our sites.

“However, this was categorically not taken at a Recycling Lives site. We take any allegations such as this very seriously.”

The firm said the video did not show one of their recycling plants, due to the layout of the room.

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