A RESTAURANT in York has been slammed by an animal rights group for the way it stores live crabs and lobsters.

Regency, in George Hudson Street, keeps crabs and lobsters in a small tank clearly visible to passers-by and customers.

The crabs are piled on top of each other. Lobsters are given less space to spend their final hours, and are placed on top of each other in the tanks.

Although there are no UK laws to protect crabs and lobsters from restaurants storing them in this way, animal rights group Viva! has expressed concern at Regency’s practices.

The group wants to raise awareness of the treatment of lobsters, crabs and other shellfish which are not covered by existing animal welfare legislation and can be boiled or hacked apart alive, without sanction.

Justin Kerswell, campaigns manager and deputy director of the group, which campaigns for a vegan world, told The Press: “The conditions lobsters and crabs are kept at in the tanks at the Regency Chinese restaurant are shocking.

“What is even more shocking is that it is unlikely that it is illegal to keep these animals this way.

“However, we would urge local animal health and trading standards to at the very least investigate.

“Lobsters and crabs are highly intelligent creatures.

"Piling animals on top of each other shows complete disregard for their welfare.

“They are very much capable of feeling pain, yet slaughter legislation doesn’t even cover crustaceans and many still suffer an excruciating death in boiling water in British kitchens.”

Mr Kerswell urged customers to help the crabs and lobsters by refusing to eat them.

He added: “Whilst the law fails them we don’t have to.

"Leave lobsters and crabs off your plate and choose a kinder vegan option instead.”

The Press contacted the Regency restaurant several times for a comment but they did not respond.