The family of an 82-year-old woman whose body was allegedly dug up by animal rights protesters spoke last night of their guilt after the desecration of the graveyard. Chris Hall, who runs a farm breeding guinea pigs for medical research, described the attack on his mother-in-law's grave as "horrific" and said he could not now rule out shutting the business. He said he and his family were also distressed for other parishioners who had loved ones buried at St Peter's church in Yoxall, Staffordshire, and he pleaded with whoever had carried out the attack to return the remains of Gladys Hammond to her family. Police arrested prominent animal rights campaigner John Curtin on Thursday, along with another man, but both were yesterday released without charge. Last night Mr Curtin protested his innocence and condemned the action as a "sick" act which could only prove counterproductive to the animal rights cause. Police believe two men dug up the burial plot in the grounds of St Peter's church under the cover of darkness two weeks ago, before stealing her remains, which had been buried for seven years. Mr Hall's farm in Newchurch, Staffordshire, provides guinea pigs for medical research and has long been the target of animal rights protests. Mr Hall, who runs Darley Oaks Farm with his brother John and father David, said the family were now considering closing the business, although it was too soon to make any decisions. They have been targeted for five years but had previously refused to bow to pressure from the extremists despite attacks on staff and friends. He said: "The attack on the grave was so horrific I can't really put into words how we feel. My wife is at home at present but is obviously highly distressed. "We haven't been back to the graveyard because it's just too emotional to go at the moment. "We feel extremely guilty for the rest of the church and the other people who are buried there. "Everyone has been affected and we are responsible for that, in the respect that we carried on our business when the protesters told us to stop. "But we are a legitimate business and no research is actually done here on the farm. "We have been talking about shutting down but it's too early at the moment to make a decision. "It's business as usual for the present but obviously we have to think about it." Mr Hall also revealed that attacks on the farm and its workers became so bad he had to warn friends of the family not to visit. "Most of the staff that work here have had windows broken in their cars, their houses have been spray-painted with abusive words and their cars covered with acid. "One of my staff has an autistic son and the animal rights protesters targeted him and his mother-in-law. They know no bounds. "Six or seven of my staff have been personally attacked. "But I don't feel in danger of my life - I give as good as I get but I'm leaving it up to the police to catch the people who did this. "If I had one message to the people who did this, it would be: 'can we have the body back, please?' It really is the most distressing incident of the whole episode." Police sources said Mrs Hammond's remains have still not been found. l There will be a service of rededication at St Peter's church, Yoxall today at 4.30pm. The Revd Jenny Lister will lead prayers with the bishop of Wolverhampton, the Right Rev Michael Bourke. A spokesman for the Diocese of Lichfield said: "The service is designed to allow the community of Yoxall and surrounding villages to reclaim their churchyard and a sense of normality following the events of recent days. "It is a private affair and candles will be lit and flowers placed on every grave." | 
