Campaigners staged a protest in a town centre yesterday.

Dressed as a jockey and a racehorse, the protestors hoped to highlight the harsh conditions and fate they claim racehorses suffer.

They handed out leaflets encouraging shoppers in Darlington not to place bets on horses and to boycott the sport. The action was part of the national charity Animal Aid's Horse Racing Awareness Week, organised to coincide with the run-up to the Grand National this Saturday.

A spokeswoman for the North-East Animal Rights Coalition said: "Every year, horses meet their death during the three-day Aintree meet. There is nothing sporting or glamorous about the sight of animals breaking their necks, backs and legs.

"There's no such thing as a harmless flutter. Our message is that horse racing is cruel - don't bet on it."

Animal Aid will stage a similar protest at Aintree, the first time a national animal rights group has staged a major demonstration at the event.