Unhygienic meat from Eastern Europe could enter the UK when the EU gets bigger on May 1, a Euro MP has warned.

South West MEP Dr Caroline Jackson, whose constituency includes Swindon, fears food meant for consumption only in the Czech Republic and Poland will slip through customs and be sold in the UK.

"We already know that the Polish authorities have asked for exemptions from EU rules for nine months for some 300 meat and dairy plants," said Dr Jackson. "The trouble is that as from May 1 there will be no checks on food entering the existing EU from such countries.

"I am calling on the European Commission to do its job properly and be much more rigorous in acting to close down non-complying plants, and carry out thorough inspections."