DEVON animal welfare hero Jane Howorth has received a special award at the House of Lords for her work to improve the lives of battery hens.

Jane, 48, of North Parks, Chulmleigh, won the Campaigner of the Year accolade in the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Animal Action Awards 2008 in recognition of her work.

She founded the Battery Hen Welfare Trust after seeing a Panorama programme in the late 1970s on factory farming. She began by writing to local MPs, the Meat and Livestock Commission and anyone else who would listen to her requests for better food labelling and increased supply of free-range eggs in retail outlets.

Her organisation has now rescued 100,000 battery hens from slaughter.

IFAW UK director Robbie Marsland said: "Jane has made an outstanding contribution to animal welfare and we are delighted to be able to give her this award.

"We hope Jane's work will inspire others to help animals in Devon and across the country."

Baroness Gale, who hosted the awards, said: "Jane is truly an animal welfare hero and I am delighted to be able to present this important award in recognition if her achievements."