Animal rights protester in Crufts scare

THERE was a security scare at Crufts dog show last night when a man ran into the arena as the winner was being announced on live television.

Owner Yvette Short clutched the overall winner — a whippet bitch called Tease — as security staff grappled with the intruder.

The protester carried a banner for animal rights group Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

A Crufts spokesman said: “Protesters from Peta gained unauthorised access to the ring in the main arena at Crufts, and in doing so scared the dogs and put the safety of both dogs and people at risk in a hugely irresponsible way.

“Our main priority at the moment is the wellbeing of the dogs that were in the ring, who are looked after by their owners and show officials. The NEC Group have extensive security procedures in place at Crufts and we, along with the NEC Group, will be reviewing what happened as a matter of urgency.”