Gladys Hammond's remains have never been found

John Hall and his brother Christopher, traditionally dairy farmers, begin breeding guinea pigs for medical research.

Their farm is raided by animal rights activists who claim that the guinea pigs bred there are kept in appalling conditions - a claim denied by the Halls.

Protestors also object to the animals' use in laboratory experiments. A campaign is set up called Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs in a bid to force the Halls to close down their business.

Mr Hall says he is prepared to work with "civilised" activists. Regular demonstrations begin outside the farm, but some animal rights activists begin a systematic campaign of intimidation.

Threats are made against the Hall family and farm property is attacked. When the Halls refuse to capitulate, activists then target their employees.

Roads and beauty spots nearby are daubed with abusive graffiti, local pubs are attacked and are explosives let off at night leaving local residents sleepless.

Over 450 separate incidents are recorded in this time period alone, leaving an entire community feeling under siege.

The campaign of intimidation against the Halls moves to a new level when the body of Chris Hall's mother-in-law, Gladys Hammond, 82, is dug up and removed from its grave in St Peter's Churchyard, Yoxall.

John Hall has been forced to give up his business

John Hall tells the BBC's Inside Out programme that what has happened is unbelievable.

"To desecrate lovely Gladys's grave is an absolute outrage, it just goes beyond belief really. They call us scum but I wonder if they really know the meaning of the word," he said.

Animal Rights group Speak openly condemns the desecration of Mrs Hammond's grave

The Hall family hold a service at St Peter's Church to rededicate Mrs Hammond's grave.

The vicar of Yoxall, the Rev Jenny Lister, said the ceremony was designed to bring back a sense of peace and sanctity to the churchyard.

The Halls were hit by a systematic campaign of intimidation

The bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Revd Michael Bourke, blesses the graveyard and a flower is placed on each grave.

"What has happened this week was a shocking and repulsive attack on all that the churchyard stands for as a holy place," he tells the congregation.

"But it does not and cannot disturb the repose of the souls of those whose resting place has been disturbed."

The Hall family receive threatening letters from someone who claims to have the remains of Mrs Hammond.

Staffordshire Police confirm that they are investigating but say they cannot verify the letter.

Animal rights campaigners are asked to stop protests outside Darley Oaks Farm.

Three days later police praise campaigners after calling off one protests but call again for them to stay away from Darley Oaks Farm.

The Halls and residents of seven villages nearby go to court in a bid to have a large exclusion zone imposed around the area which would prevent animal rights activists from entering.

But their bid fails and instead, the judge grants a zone of 100 yards around the farm and the homes of the owners' relatives.

The Halls come to a partial agreement with animal rights protestors.

A High Court judge is told some of the protestors agree to demonstrations outside the farm being limited in time, frequency and the number of protestors.

The court hears arguments for a wider exclusion zone to be imposed in the area.

A petrol bomb and deaths threats are delivered to the Hall family and staff at Darley Oaks Farm.

Several of the farm workers also receive threatening letters, forcing some to cease their employment at the farm.

High Court judge, Mr Justice Owen, refuses to impose a 27 square mile (75 sq km) "no-go" zone against animal rights activists.

But he says protesters had conducted a "guerrilla campaign of terrorism" and says a zone may be imposed if orders to regulate protests are breached.

Forensic experts examine letters, claiming to be from animal rights extremists, which offer to reveal the location Mrs Hammond's body.

A group calling itself the Animal Rights Militia write to say part of Mrs Hammond's body was buried locally. The letters also contain death threats against family members and friends.

Signs of Newchurch itself were also targeted

The letter states that a relative or friend of the Hall family will be killed if the farm continues breeding guinea pigs.

The group also sends letters to the BBC and the Burton Mail newspaper claiming one sixth of Mrs Hammond's remains are buried in a sealed plastic container 2ft underground in nearby woods.

Police appeal to group on the BBC's Crimewatch programme to prove their claims by revealing the exact location where the remains are buried.

Officers investigating the desecration of Mrs Hammond's grave resume their search of woodlands where animal rights extremists claim to have buried her.

Around 100 officers begin searching Brakenhurst Wood in Newchurch.

Three days later, the search ends without the body being found.

The Hall family announce they are to stop breeding guinea pigs for medical research after years of intimidation by animal rights activists.

The family said they hoped the decision would prompt the return of the body of Mrs Hammond.

Since Mrs Hammond's remains were taken, police have arrested several people in connection with the theft but no-one to date has been charged and the remains have never been found.

Darley Oaks Farm officially closes and the Hall family again call for the return of Gladys Hammond's body.

Four people admit conspiracy to blackmail over the grave desecration.

They are Jon Ablewhite, of Hawley St, Levenshulme, Manchester, Kerry Whitburn, of Summer Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, John Smith, of Leicester Street, Wolverhampton, and Josephine Mayo, 38, of Springbank Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham.