A celebrity pig farmer from Suffolk has won a charity award for his work educating the public about animal welfare.

Jimmy Doherty, who runs a pig farm in Wherstead, near Ipswich, and campaigns for animal rights through his television shows, was awarded the Elsie MJ Evans bronze award at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA’s) honours ceremony.

James Yeates, the RSPCA’s chief veterinary officer, said: “Jimmy has been on our screens for 10 years, highlighting the realities of pig farming through his own business, Jimmy’s Farm, and reminding the British public of how meat gets to our plates in Jimmy Doherty’s Farming Heroes.

“He is an experienced farmer, knows the industry very well and last year he supported a campaign to tell shoppers about higher welfare rose veal and got Tesco to stock it.”

The award is given in recognition of an important contribution to animal welfare or an act of outstanding kindness or bravery.

Mr Doherty said: “It’s a great honour to be given an award by the RSPCA. I am passionate about welfare and believe that farm animals deserve good lives from farm to fork.”