DAWN raids have been carried out in connection with an investigation into a sickening illegal blood sport in the North-East.

Around 30 RSPCA inspectors and police officers targeted the houses of suspected badger baiters in co-ordinated strikes early on Wednesday morning.

Four men from the Consett area of County Durham were arrested and taken away for questioning at Durham City Police Station.

RSPCA chief inspector Mark Gent: “Badger baiting and digging setts is a massive disruption to wildlife.

“Pitting dogs against badgers is a barbaric sport people are still involved in and it should stop.”

The ongoing investigation relates to allegations that land near Consett Golf Club was being used to hunt badgers.

Ch Insp Gent said: “Generally, what they do is send a dog down to locate a badger and sometime use a locator collar so they know where it is.

“Then they dig down and get the badger out. They injure the badger then they set other dogs on it and they rip it apart and kill it.

“It is horrendous. I do not understand what people get out of it, but people do it and that is what we are here to stop.

“If we get information we can act on it and we will get people to court so it doesn't happen again."

Crews were briefed at Consett police station at 7am before they systematically went to houses in the area to make arrests as part of the ongoing animal cruelty investigation.

Warrants were executed on five addresses, four residential, in the Consett area, and one allotment in Medomsley. 

Inspector Keith Wardle, of Consett Police, said: “It is the barbaric nature of it. It is a cruel sport, if you can call it a sport.

“It is cruel to the animals, not just the badgers, but the dogs involved and they get some horrific injuries. It is a barbaric practice.”

A 40-year-old man from The Dene, Medomsley, a 23-year-old man from Pleasant View, Consett, a 20-year-old man from Durham Road, Blackhill, and a 36-year-old man from Bells Wood Court, Blackhill, were taken to Durham City police station for questioning. 

Four adult terrier-type dogs and two puppies have been removed and placed in RSPCA care.

A fifth man is attending the police station voluntarily on allegations relating to the docking of the dog's tails.

To report animal cruelty, call the RSPCA 24 hours a day on 0300-1234-999.