This horrific footage shows workers at 24 sheep farms in Britain 'punching, stamping and beating' animals, campaigners claimed today.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has brought a formal complaint to an animal welfare charity after an eyewitness documented the horrendous abuse.

The abuse was witnessed on 24 farms across Scotland in West Lothian, East Lothian, Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, Midlothian, South Lanarkshire and the Scottish Borders.

The 12-page complaint includes evidence of wool workers 'striking terrified sheep in the face with electric clippers, slamming their heads into the floor, beating and kicking them, and throwing them off shearing trailers'.

Peta said the footage obtained by the eyewitness highlights 'just some of the cruelty' at 24 sheep farms toured by shearers from a shearing contractor earlier this year.

The animal rights group is calling on the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to launch an investigation.

The organisation also said criminal charges should be filed against the workers for apparent violations of laws prohibiting cruelty to animals, where appropriate.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has brought a formal complaint to an animal welfare charity after an eyewitness documented the horrendous abuse

The abuse was witnessed on 24 farms across Scotland in West Lothian, East Lothian, Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, Midlothian, South Lanarkshire and the Scottish Borders

In August, Peta Asia released the first-ever video exposé of cruelty within the English wool industry, showing similar abuse.

Peta Asia senior vice president Jason Baker said: 'After exposing cruelty within the English wool industry, we've found the same horrifying abuse of sheep at farms in Scotland.

'Everywhere that eyewitnesses from Peta Asia and its affiliates go - from Australia and the US to South America and now the United Kingdom - they see the same disturbing behaviour.

'The production of all wool - no matter where it originated or what 'ethical' or 'responsibly sourced' claims are made on its label - spells extreme suffering and death for millions of gentle sheep and lambs.'

The organisation said criminal charges should be filed against the workers for apparent violations of laws prohibiting cruelty to animals, where appropriate

The animal rights group is calling on the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to launch an investigation

Peta said shearers are paid by volume, not by the hour, which encourages fast, violent handling.

They claim it leads to 'gaping wounds' on the animals' bodies, which shearers stitched up using a needle and thread but no pain relief.

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said, 'We can confirm we have received reports of alleged abuse within wool farms in Scotland.

'Our investigations are currently ongoing.'