The RSPCA investigated thousands of animal cruelty cases in Kent last year - one of the highest figures in the country.

The charity received 5,075 complaints of cruelty, with 13 new animal welfare concerns being looked into by inspectors every day.

Officers are said to be stretched to the limit, with more horses collected in Kent last year than anywhere else in the country.

Most calls in Kent related to dogs, with 2,677 reports, followed by cats, which saw 1,208 calls and then horses, with 892 incidents reported.

Steve Dockery, the RSPCA’s chief inspector who covers Kent, said: "Our officers are stretched to the limits as we try to help all the suffering, sick and dying animals in our county.

"We are also dealing with the very real problem of the horse crisis and this is reflected by the figures which reveal that Kent had the highest number of equines collected in the whole of the country last year and we ranked fifth on the national list for the highest number of complaints received.

"Even though I have been with the RSPCA for a very long time now, I am still shocked and saddened by the awful incidents of cruelty which our officers are dealing with day in and day out.

"I am still shocked and saddened by the awful incidents of cruelty" - Steve Dockery

"The job of an RSPCA officer can be tough and emotionally very draining, but being able to rescue an animal from horrific neglect or brutal cruelty, and know they are going to be given a second chance thanks to the tireless work of our staff and volunteers, is the reason we keep doing it.

"The work of the RSPCA family helps to transform the lives of thousands of animals in Kent each year and we are so grateful to the public who report cruelty to us and continue to support our vital work."

Kent is in the top 10 for animal cruelty, ranking fifth out of the 47 counties in the UK for complaints.

Some of the cases the charity looked into include a young horse found collapsed in the mud.

Another horse was found abandoned and had to be rescued from a water-filled ditch.

Nationally, officials received 1,037,435 calls to its 24-hour cruelty line.

If you are concerned about an animal’s welfare, you can report this to the RSPCA’s cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.