Last Saturday, local MP Greg Barker paid a visit to the Brownbread Horse Rescue Centre in Ashburnham.

Greg was having a debate in the House of Commons on the following Wednesday regarding his strong stance on the prevention of live horse exports from the UK. The visit to the sanctuary provided an opportunity to discuss the issues involved and also the controversial legislation of horse passports.

Accompanied by his daughter, Cordelia, Greg was shown round the Centre by Trustees, Tony Smith and Dinty Steains. Horse passports are due to become law in June this year and Tony explained the enormous financial burden this would have on the Charity where up to 70 or 80 equines would be required to have passports. He gave the MP a letter which pointed out that Brownbread Charity funds were raised for the welfare and prevention of abuse of equines and that horse passports were designed for the protection