Two meat plants were raided yesterday under suspicion of passing off horse meat as beef for kebabs and burgers.

The Food Standards Agency and police entered Peter Boddy slaughterhouse in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, and Farmbox Meats in Llandre in Aberystwyth, West Wales.

They have both been suspended pending the outcome of investigations.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said: "This is absolutely shocking. It's totally unacceptable if any business in the UK is defrauding the public by passing off horse meat as beef.

"I expect the full force of the law to be brought down on anyone involved in this kind of activity."