THE number of animal cruelty cases increased in Lancashire last year, according to new figures.

The RSPCA investigated 5,475 separate incidents in the county, the sixth highest across the UK.

Around 4,800 cases were looked into the year before.

A total of 149,604 complaints of abuse were made nationwide, an increase of five per cent.

More than 400 calls were made on a daily basis across the country which saw almost 90,000 dogs and more than 36,000 cats suffer at the hands of their owners.

Dermot Murphy, assistant director of the RSPCA Inspectorate, said the extreme instances of animal cruelty never failed to shock him.

He said: “It continues to outrage and sadden me that people can be capable of such deliberate brutality towards animals.

“But equally it drives me on to ensure that perpetrators of animal cruelty are put before the courts.

“I believe that the figures from last year show that we’re not becoming meaner, but people are simply less willing to stand by and do nothing if they think an animal is suffering.”

The highest number of complaints investigated were in Greater London with 11,812, West Yorkshire 7,920 and Greater Manchester 7,708.

The highest number of people convicted of animal cruelty offences were in West Yorkshire, 94, followed by North Yorkshire, 50, and the West Midlands, 49.

The number of convictions in Lancashire decreased from 46 in 2015 to 31 in 2016.

Mr Murphy said: “People are increasingly likely to share images or footage on their social media accounts of animals they believe are not being cared for properly.

“While many will see material their friends have shared and then contact us about them.

“Either way, our officers are under increased pressure having to respond to more calls and investigate more complaints.

“It is thanks to their dedication, as well as RSPCA staff and volunteers, that we are able to transform the lives of tens of thousands of animals each year.”