'Veggie Pride' parade in Paris

VEGANS and vegetarians marched through the streets of Paris this weekend in their 15th annual Veggie Pride celebration.

About 1,000 people attended the march, many dressed in animal costumes, as part of a weekend of activities including conferences on the subject of animal welfare.

The event comes as MPs are set to debate whether schools should be be required to offer a vegetarian menu in canteens.

Clémence Laot, one of the organisers, told Le Monde: "Advertisements depict happy animals while the reality is rather slaughterhouses and horror that takes place there.

"In France, a billion animals are killed each year for our food. It is a carnage, which could be avoided simply enough."

She added that France "has lagged behind the United Kingdom and even the United States" in its attitude to vegetarianism.

"This strong resistance can undoubtedly be explained by its culinary heritage and a culture based on meat. But today, even people who eat meat are having second thoughts and are open to the idea that animals are sentient beings."