She had been with the charity for 18 years

An RSPCA trustee has been forced to resign over her involvement with a radical animal rights group.

Vice chair Jane Tredgett is co-founder of Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of the Extinction Rebellion environmental movement.

The group advocates a plant-based diet to combat climate change and opposes the meat and dairy industry.

She resigned after being involved in a planned shutdown of Smithfield meat market in London.

The group implored supporters to take part in the two week protest to disrupt the sale and distribution of meat from the famous market.

Animal Rebellion encourages its members to take part in direct civil disruption against the meat, dairy and fish industries.

Tredgett was also a director of the RSPCA’s Freedom Foods accreditation scheme, which certifies animals have been ethically farmed.

A statement from the charity stated: “Jane Tredgett has been a committed and passionate member of the RSPCA council and supported the charity’s aim to create a world which is kinder to animals. Jane was due to leave the national council next month as part of wide-ranging reforms to RSPCA governance to refresh and widen representation.

“She was aware that getting involved with this activity in her private capacity is a divergence from RSPCA policies and offered earlier this month to step down from the council on 30 September, before the event takes place, which has been accepted.

“It is made clear to anyone who wants to stand as an RSPCA trustee that they must support our charitable purpose and policies which include improving the welfare of animals used in farming and fishing through our welfare standards.”