EAST Lancashire topped the league of shame after shocking figures highlighted the area as an animal cruelty black-spot.

The RSPCA's Preston office recorded more offences than any of its other four North West offices.

Among the incidents were a goat tethered so tightly in Padiham the rope was embedded in its neck, and an Accrington pet shop owner who sent a lizard through the post.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.