The RSPCA has launched a ‘Stock the Sleigh’ appeal campaign after it says it received over 3,600 calls last Christmas

On Christmas Day alone, 934 calls were made to the charity's cruelty line - the highest number it had recorded for five years and almost a third more than the number of calls it reportedly received during the same period in 2017.

Last December, there were more than 61,000 calls coming through to the charity’s cruelty line, up by more than 5,000 the previous year. Of these calls, 3,676 were logged in the North West and 299 in Cumbria.

Dermot Murphy said: “We know that animals need our help all-year round and our officers are out in all weathers helping save pets from abuse and neglect, and rescuing wildlife who may be injured or in need of assistance. We are expecting to take in more than 10,000 animals this winter.”.