A crackdown on those who cause animal suffering is at the core of Government legislation unveiled yesterday.

The Animal Welfare Bill is being hailed by ministers as the most significant piece of legislation in this area for nearly a century.

It introduces a duty on those responsible for animals to do all that is reasonable to ensure their welfare - a duty which for the first time applies to non-farmed animals.

The Bill simplifies animal welfare legislation for enforcers and animal keepers by bringing more than 20 pieces of legislation into one.

It also aims to deter persistent offenders with stronger penalties and no loopholes.

Those causing unnecessary suffering to an animal will face up to 51 weeks in prison, a fine of up to £20,000 or both.

Animal Welfare Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "Once the legislation is enacted, our law will be worthy of our reputation as a nation of animal lovers. Anyone who is responsible for an animal will have to do all that is reasonable to meet the needs of their animal.

"This is a much more appropriate way to ensure an animal's welfare than relying on a 94-year-old law that was only designed to prevent outright cruelty."

Changes include:

* An increase from 12 to 16 as the minimum age at which a child may buy a pet.

* A ban on unaccompanied children under 16 being able to win an animal as a prize.

* A ban on mutilations of animals, except certain instances, such as castrating and spaying cats and dogs or ear-tagging cattle.

The North-East has one of the worst records for animal cruelty in the UK, with 35,280 cruelty complaints last year.

RSPCA Northern spokeswoman Heather Holmes said the Bill was a significant move forward for animal welfare.

She said: "We're absolutely delighted, this is something we've been lobbying for for years.

"At the moment, we have to wait until an animal is physically suffering before we can do anything. Now this places responsibility upon an owner for an animal's welfare - it's not just enough to leave a dog tethered in a yard."

Dogs Trust chief executive Clarissa Baldwin said: "We have high hopes that the long- awaited Animal Welfare Bill, once enacted, will provide a much greater protection to the 6.5 million dogs in the UK."