Racehorse trainer Howard Johnson says he's happy to take a lie detector test on The Jeremy Kyle Show to prove his innocence over animal welfare breaches.

The veteran trainer who lives near Crook, County Durham, is due to appear before a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) hearing next month, accused of racing a horse that had a forbidden de-nerving operation and giving three others steroids.

The 57-year-old denies all allegations, claiming he is being victimised and will hire top lawyers to fight his case.

He said: "They are trying to pick on me for something I haven't done. I will even go on Jeremy Kyle and do a lie detector test."

More that 500 guests on the controversial ITV daytime show have undergone lie detector tests over the past five years, many to try and refute allegations of cheating with their partners.

He added: "I'm a trainer and a farmer, not a legal man, so I will get top men to fight my corner and I refute all the allegations."

The BHA will focus on a left-leg neurectomy operation carried out on horse Striking Article - owned by Tyneside software tycoon Graham Wylie - which was put down after a race in Musselburgh, Scotland last February.

The 'de-nerving' surgery is banned among competition horses because it numbs them - allowing them to gallop through pain - potentially putting their and the jockey's safety at risk.

Mr Johnson is also accused of giving banned steroid Laurabolin to horses Mintika Pass, Montoya's Son and Whisky Magic.

Businessman Graham Wylie, co-founder of software giant Sage UK Ltd, has pledged to give his full backing.

He said: "I believe Howard is one of the finest stocksmen in the country in terms of making sure animals are fit and well."

£100,000 armed robbery at the farmhouse of a leading racehorse trainer generated several calls.

In April last year Mr Johnson and his wife Sue were robbed at gunpoint by masked raiders who forced their way into his farmhouse.

The two men, who demanded cash from the safe, fled with £100,000.