CLACTON MP Giles Watling has called for action after it was revealed Tendring has the most complaints and convictions of animal welfare abuse in Essex.

Mr Watling met with RSPCA inspectors at the House of Commons to discuss animal welfare issues and the challenges the charity faces preventing animal welfare abuse.

It was revealed there were 527 complaints against owners and seven convictions for animal welfare abuses - the highest for any district in Essex - last year.

Across Essex there were a total of 4,566 complaints and 23 convictions, including 380 complaints and six convictions in Colchester.

Clacton MP Mr Watling said: “It was a pleasure to meet with the RSPCA in Parliament to discuss animal welfare. I am passionate about animal welfare and the proud owner of three fabulous dogs.

“I am determined to help tackle the outrageous animal abuse that happens right across the country.

“However, I was particularly concerned when I learnt Tendring has the most complaints and convictions of animal welfare abuse in Essex.

“This is not a statistic anyone can be proud of.

“I want to encourage anyone that has concerns about the welfare of any animals to alert the RSPCA so they can carry out the necessary investigations.

“If appropriate the RSPCA will work with the police to bring about enforcement action and justice against those that see animal cruelty as permissible behaviour.

“I am proud to support the RSPCA and I was pleased to be able to thank them for all their hard work that they carry out on behalf of the animal lovers.”

David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said the charity received over 1.1 million calls to its cruelty line in 2016 and investigated 160,000 complaints of animal cruelty.

He said: “Despite having limited resources the RSPCA continues to be the leading enforcement organisation for animal welfare in England and Wales, as the fact that we receive a call to our Cruelty Line every 27 seconds shows.

“The RSPCA has been working to improve the laws that protect animals. As the UK exits the European Union there are all sorts of animal welfare issues that we need to work with politicians to make progress on, from protecting animal sentience to working to end live animal exports, from reforming the Common Agricultural Policy to encourage better farm animal welfare to improving food labelling.”