ELIZABETH HURLEY - ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP URGES LIZ HURLEY TO SAVE PIGLET

Animal rights pressure group Peta has written to Elizabeth Hurley urging her to spare the life of a piglet she is hand-rearing on her Gloucestershire farm.

The actress is planning to launch a new range of pre-packaged meals and accompanying cook book, producing "healthy" and "low-fat" cuisine.

But with the Austin Powers' star's food products set to contain meat, Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have sent an open letter to her, urging her to keep her organic range vegetarian.

"Animal products, which are typically loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol, are far from being healthy," writes the group's special projects manager Yvonne Taylor. "

"Won't you please consider promoting a truly healthy, low-fat vegetarian diet? A vegetarian diet not only reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease and numerous other life-threatening illnesses but is also a far kinder diet for animals who need not have their lives cut short to please our palates."

Ms Taylor adds: "Given the chance, the piglet you have affectionately described hand-rearing would grow into a curious and intelligent adult who is as smart, loyal and affectionate as your dog, Emily.

"Just as you would cringe at shipping Emily off to slaughter, you should also be reluctant to betray a pig who you have cared for and befriended."

Hurley, 43, had described the experience of feeding the piglet as "absolutely divine".

And pressing home Peta's message, Brice Friedric, vice president of the world's largest animal rights organisation, added: "Just as we hope Ms. Hurley would be hesitant to ship her dog off to slaughter, we hope she will pause to think before killing the pigs and other animals she is caring for on her farm."

"With so many healthy and delicious vegetarian options available, there's no reason for Ms. Hurley - or anyone else - to betray her animal friends."