New abattoir to open in Leicestershire in early 2011

An abattoir handling thousands of sheep, pigs and cattle every week could be up and running early next year.

The £2 million slaughterhouse will be built at Six Hills Farm, near Old Dalby.

The application by Leicestershire Livestock Supplies has received backing from East Midlands Development Agency (Emda), which is providing a 40 per cent grant, and Melton Borough Council.

It could be built by February and would also be able to handle deer and rare breeds, such as bison.

Andy Hawley, one of the farmers behind the project, said: "We've got the Emda grant which, in difficult times, we were told we were lucky to get.

"To date, we've been offered 2,000 pigs and 2,000 sheep and about 50 cattle a week.

"My goal would be to have it ready in about eight months.

"If everything goes according to plan, we should be able to get on and get it done."

Matthew O' Callaghan, chairman of Melton Mowbray Food Partnership, said: "Discussions have been going on to get a multi-species abattoir since 1998.

"It's great news that this project is going ahead. It will make a significant difference to livestock producers in Leicestershire."

Ros Deane, county chairman of the National Farmers' Union and a sheep farmer from Stonesby, said: "A multi-species abattoir can only be a good thing.

"Too many small abattoirs have closed in recent years."