Toy and sports shops in Bradford could soon be full of pig farmers who have been ordered to give their porkers something to play with.

New Defra regulations will oblige farmers to keep their pigs amused with "manipulable" objects like toys and footballs to stop them fighting or chewing each other.

The regulations, which are expected to come into force on Friday, also instruct pig owners to change them on a weekly basis as they quickly lose their novelty value.

And anyone who does not comply could face a £2,500 fine.

But many pig farmers in the area say they already hang up "toys" for their porkers, like tyres and balls and say they are pigsick of ever-increasing red tape.

Steeton pig farmer Graham Fort said: "We tend to do this anyway so it's ridiculous bringing in more regulations like this.

"We already put in bits of drainpipe and footballs or hang chains up for the pigs. They need something to play with, but I won't put in cuddly toys!"

Cattle farmer John Gullett, Bradford National Farmers' Union spokesman, used to keep pigs.

He said: "A good stockperson does not need telling how to look after his animals. We are getting to the stage where someone is sat in his room wondering what he can suggest farmers do next. It is unnecessary."

David Mitchell, of Honeypot Farm in Wilsden, has about 90 pigs.

"This doesn't make much difference to me as my pigs are loose. I give them a tyre to keep them busy, but they never do anything if not."

James Wainhouse, who runs St Leonard's Farm Park in Esholt, joked that he will deprive his children of toys to comply.

He said: "My son is giving his Action Man, my daughter is giving up her Sindy and I am loaning my football to the pigs.

"I hope to get a football team together with other pig farmers in the area."

Defra is bringing in the new legislation as part of the amendments for the Welfare of Farmed Animals Act which include two European Union directives.

A spokesman said: "The Regulations tighten up the existing requirements for environmental enrichment, by requiring all pigs to have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of manipulable materials to enable proper investigation and manipulation activities - an important behavioural need in pigs.

"Objects such as footballs and chains can satisfy some of the pigs' behavioural needs, but can quickly lose their novelty factor.

"For this reason, the pig welfare code recommends that objects should not be used long-term unless they are used in conjunction with the materials listed in the regulations or are changed on a weekly basis."

But Jim Dougal, head of the European Commission in the UK, denied Eurocrats were behind the new rules.

"If the UK wants to tell farmers that they should supply toys for their pigs, that is a matter for them," he said.

"The EU legislation says pigs should have access to such things as straw, hay, wood, sawdust, compost or peat. There is no mention of toys in the EU directive."