A member of European Parliament will be recognised for her campaign to end animal testing for cosmetic products.

Hertfordshire MEP Alex Mayer will be at ethical pet product suppliers HOWND in Borehamwood this Friday to pick up the inaugural parliamentarian award by Cruelty Free International.

The Euro MEP will be presented with the accolade after leading in the Body Shop's national campaign which calls for the United Nations to adopt an international convention that will end animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients across the world by 2020.

A petition by the Body Shop has reached more than 5.5million signatures.

The Labour MEP will meet HOWND’s directors Jo Amit and Mark Hirschel, along with office hounds Laila and Roxy, and they will present Ms Mayer with the award.

Ms Mayer said: “I’m delighted to receive this award. I have been really pleased to work closely with Cruelty Free International and the Body Shop on their campaign for a global ban on animal testing for for cosmetics. The ban works in Europe - it can work worldwide too. That’s why I speak out for the rights of animals.”