There was uproar among farmers following a Channel 4 show How to Steal Pigs and Influence People.

The show aired on Tuesday night and followed vegan activists as they attempted to steal pigs from farms in what it called “daring farming heists”.

Farmers complained about the biosecurity risks attached with people coming on to a pig farm, as well as the undue stress caused to the pigs.

I see that Mitsubishi Motors, which sponsors documentaries on the channel, moved to distance itself from the show, saying: “Mitsubishi Motors in the UK does not condone criminality or illegal and irresponsible activity in any form.”

Before the show aired, a pig was removed from a farm in Antrim in Northern Ireland by activists. There were no reports of any criminal offence.