Police at Benalla abattoir as 30 protesters chain themselves inside

UPDATE: A protest at the Benalla abattoir has concluded with multiple people charged with trespassing and other offences.

Police said the incident at the abattoir was resolved without any major issues about 11.30am on Thursday.

Police said seven arrests were made for trespassing.

"Three men and four women between the ages of 23 and 53 from Melbourne, Tasmania and NSW were charged with trespass offences and bailed to attend the Benalla Magistrates' Court at later dates," a police spokeswoman said.

Some of the protesters, who were both inside and outside the facility, had to be treated for exposure to the cold weather.

The activities had been at the site side about 3am on Thursday.

Nobody was injured and police said there was minimal resistance from the group members as they were being removed from the meatworks.

EARLIER: Police officers and other emergency service workers are at the Benalla abattoir after activists locked themselves inside.

Photographs released by the protest group on Thursday morning show people sitting inside machinery at the Firth Road meatworks.

They are protesting at a carbon dioxide chamber used in the slaughtering process, with the trespassers chained to equipment and demanding the end of its use.

A woman is also reportedly on the roof of the abattoir, and an ambulance has been called to treat a 25-year-old woman for shock.

It's believed the group has been in the area for three days.

A statement from the Farm Transparency Project says 30 people are inside the site, with some blocking the race to stop pigs from being killed.

Director Chris Delforce said he was locked inside a chamber and had filmed the process and "can't wait any longer for someone else to act".

"Those involved have said they are willing to stay for as long as possible to draw attention to this issue and push for a total ban on gas chambers," the statement said.

Police, including officers from Benalla and Wangaratta, are at the scene with paramedics.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: