CRUELTY to animals is on the increase in Bolton, according to figures released by the RSPCA today.

The town has been described as "one of the busiest areas" for RSPCA inspectors in Greater Manchester.

The total number of prosecutions in the North-west, for abuse, neglect and abandonment, rose by 20 per cent from 297 in 1995 to 356 last year, new figures reveal.

In the North-west cruelty to cats has almost doubled from 18 convictions in 1995 to 35 in 1996.

In the Bolton area there were 778 complaints of cruelty investigated and 378 sick, injured or unwanted animals were collected.

Chief Inspector for the Greater Manchester area, Martin Marsh said: "Bolton is one of our busiest areas in the Manchester group."

There were a number of convictions in the Bolton area last year, said Mr Marsh.

In January of last year a man from Over Hulton received a £500 fine and was ordered to pay costs of £2,800 after trapping wild birds.

In February a man from Farnworth was charged with abandoning a cat and three kittens.

In March a Horwich man was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a Doberman dog.

In May two men were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to three Lurcher dogs. They were banned from keeping any animal, for life, and ordered to pay £250 costs. RSPCA North-west regional manager, Bernard Divine, says: "It is shocking that cat cruelty has risen so steeply and that despite tireless work by RSPCA inspectors to prevent cruelty and encourage responsible pet ownership, so many animals still suffer such appalling abuse.

Neglect accounts for 71 per cent of the North-west inspectors' workload.

Calls to RSPCA inspectors have risen by 11 per cent in the North-west since 1995 to 128,330 and 730 animals were rescued, a 43 per cent increase on the previous year.

The number of animals collected by inspectors in the region also rose from 14,288 in 1995 to 17,241 in 1996.

The release of the RSPCA's cruelty statistics falls on the second day of RSPCA week and is designed to raise awareness and funds for the society.

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