ESSEX has been pinpointed by the RSPCA as one of worst places in the East of England for dog fighting.

Since 2019 there have been 98 cases of dog fighting in the region reported to the animal welfare charity - and 29 of those have been in Essex.

The RSPCA released the new figures as part of its Cancel Out Our Cruelty campaign.

Chief Insp Ian Muttitt, dog fighting expert and special operations unit chief inspector at the RSPCA, said: “It’s staggering that something which has been illegal for almost 200 years, which most people would consider consigned to history, is still so rife.

“Our figures show that in the past four years the RSPCA has uncovered and dealt with 98 incidents of dog fighting just in the east of England, let alone in the rest of England and Wales.

“Essex is the worst county in the east for it, with 29 of the incidents occurring there.”

A Canvey incident in 2019 saw a woman in her 70s approached by two men in Southwick Road.

The men attempted to convince her to let her dogs fight and then threatened to kill her pets, but the woman managed to get away.

The RSPCA’s Cancel Out Cruelty campaign aims to raise funds to help its frontline rescue teams continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse and to raise awareness about how to stop cruelty to animals for good.

Chief Insp Muttitt added: “Each year, these reports of cruelty reach its terrible annual peak in the summer months.

“Around this time of year, nationally we receive a report of an animal being beaten on average every hour of every day.

“Dog fighting, which is connected to organised crime, is just one of the many acts of cruelty we see every year.”

Many of the dogs used by dog fighters are never found and those who are rescued are often found to be banned breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act and cannot legally be rehomed.

To find out more about the Cancel Out Cruelty campaign visit bit.ly/3pH0JMn