Shocking footage has emerged of pigs being crammed into tiny cages and left shivering on the floor at a farm which supplies to Morrisons.

An undercover investigation at Poplar Farm in Withernsea, Humberside, which proudly boasts the Red Tractor logo on its pork, found animals being kept in battery farm cage conditions.

Animal rights campaigners Viva! were tipped off about the treatment of the pigs and made two visits to the farm last month.

Shocking footage has emerged of pigs being crammed into tiny wire pens in battery farm cage conditions - each cage, with a bare wire floor, has about eight piglets in each

An undercover investigation at Poplar Farm in Withernsea, Humberside, uncovered these distressing scenes

In some cases the pigs had fallen from the cages and were trapped underneath on the cold, hard concrete floor

They discovered dozens of tiny piglets in wire cages stacked three high and some who had fallen and were abandoned underneath. In some pens there were even dead animals lying on the floor.

Pregnant sows were held in small farrowing crates only inches wider than them, where they were unable to turn and can only stand up, lie down or suckle their piglets once they are born.

The crates – which are legal - are designed to maximise productivity, and ultimately drive down the cost of meat.

In one clip an exhausted piglet struggles for breath unable to move itself around while another is seen being pushed with the trotters of its kin as they step over it to feed from their mothers teats.

Investigators discovered in another two rooms a stacking system of cages filled with dozens of pigs reminiscent of battery chicken farm conditions.

Pigs crammed in the cages with bare wire floors and only have a hanging piece of chain to play with.

In some pens there were even dead piglets lying on the floor, which may have been possibly crushed to death in the tiny space

A sow lying down in a highly restrictive but legal farrowing crate where she will be kept for up to five weeks

A sow lies on her side in one of the crates as her piglets suckle on her teats. She barely has any room to even turn over

Dozens of piglets crammed together in cages at the farm, which has been given British 'Red Tractor' approval

Several piglets can be seen lying abandoned on the floor on their sides exhausted after appearing to have fallen out of a gap in the cages.

Another can be seen laying its head on a metal bar under the cages seemingly unable to move.

The farm, run by Peter Kirkwood with his two daughters, has denied doing anything illegal.

Daughter Angela Kirkwood said: 'Our farm has been visited by a government vet, local authority officials and an assurance assessor.

'Everything was found to comply with legislation and they found no cause to question the welfare of the pigs.

'We are partway through the process of installing new accommodation for our weaned piglets.'

The company boasts on its website: 'Our pigs are bred and reared to the highest welfare standards as supervised by the ABM (Assured British Meat Scheme) otherwise known as "The Little Red Tractor".'

Ms Kirkwood said in a recent interview: 'Our pigs are housed in a welfare friendly environment, which meets the highest production standards as outlined by Red Tractor Assurance.'

Trading Standards said they had launched an investigation into the farm after the shocking footage emerged

A dead piglet lays at the end of one of the pens. It may have been crushed by its mother in the confined space

A piglet appears to be dead as it lays on some newspaper in a tiny pen at the farm, which says it hasn't done anything illegal

She also boasts on a promotional video how the pigs are always kept 'happy and content' and that in their pig maternity ward 'pigs receive 24 hour maternity care!' and that they keep piglets in there to keep them 'safe.'

The farm owner also tells how they produce 20,000 pigs a year that supply supermarkets as well as their butcher business - the East Riding Country Pork farm shop, which was this year's runner up in a national competition. Under the red tractor scheme animals are supposed to have 'adequate space, and safe and comfortable housing or shelter.' Viva! sent its footage to Red Tractor, the UK’s leading farm and quality food assurance scheme, which was launched by the food industry to promote clearer labelling and ensure food originates from a trustworthy source. David Clarke Chief Executive of Red Tractor Assurance said: 'To reiterate our position, the pictures have been around on social media since late May although the location was not clear until a few weeks ago. 'We know that this farm has been visited recently by veterinarians, inspectors from local and national government as well as an assessor from our the Red Tractor scheme.

Pregnant sows were held in small farrowing crates only inches wider than them, where they were unable to turn and can only stand up, lie down or suckle their piglets once they are born

Several piglets can be seen lying abandoned on the floor on their sides exhausted after appearing to have fallen out of a gap in the cages

The farm owner has previously boasted that they produce 20,000 pigs a year that supply supermarkets as well as their butcher business

Under the red tractor scheme, of which the farm is part of, animals are supposed to have 'adequate space, and safe and comfortable housing or shelter'

'The piglet housing shown in the video is permitted by law and welfare of all pigs on the farm was found to be good.

'There are three different arrangements for piglet housing on the farm one of which, as shown in the pictures, is highly unusual and probably unique.

'This system is not acceptable to the Red Tractor scheme and action has been taken. '

It comes as farming minster George Eustice has given his backing to a multi million pound 'Trust the Tractor' advertising campaign, of which the farm is a member.

The RSPCA have also been alerted and said they were concerned and changes should be made

He said of the scheme: 'The Red Tractor label helps shoppers have confidence that the produce they are buying has been grown to British standards.'

The RSPCA have also been alerted and said they were concerned and changes should be made, while local Trading Standards said they had launched an investigation.

Dermot Murphy, assistant director, inspectorate of the charity said: 'The conditions shown in the footage are far from ideal and the cages in particular represent the worst systems in which to keep pigs.

'Pigs are highly intelligent animals and need space to move around in, and a comfortable place to lie down and rest. These cages clearly do not provide these things.

'Sadly there will be a level of mortality in a large unit, but a unit displaying good stockmanship would be making regular checks and promptly removing any dead animals.'

Justin Kerswell campaigns manager of Viva! Said: 'Consumers have seemingly been hoodwinked into believing that meat they buy from the Red Tractor scheme or from farmer's markets is somehow more welfare friendly.

'This footage shows it is anything but. British pig farming stinks and much of what was shot simply shows how most pigs live short degrading lives on factory farms in the UK.

'Few could be unmoved at seeing barely weaned piglets trapped in tiny wire cages one on top of another like a battery farm.

'The film shows dead abandoned piglets across the farm. There is a myth that Britain has the highest animal welfare in the world. Viva! says don't believe the hype.'

A spokesman for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: 'Animal health officers from the council's food services team were made aware of the allegations by colleagues from the Animal and Plant Health Agency and a joint investigation is on-going.'

A Morrisons spokesperson said: 'As soon as we were made aware of the issue we asked for a review of the way piglets were housed on the farm.

'At our request and under the guidance of Red Tractor, the farmer has now stopped using this system.'