Horse race protesters at bookies

The runners and riders tackle a challenging 4.5m course at Aintree

A group of animal rights campaigners who claim the Grand National horse race is cruel have staged a protest outside a bookmaker's shop in South Yorkshire.

Sheffield Animal Rights Group say they are urging people not to back horses in the race which they say "expects (horse) fatalities".

Protesters targeted the Ladbrokes shop on Haymarket on Friday.

The Jockey Club says it works with Aintree and the RSPCA on equine safety.

Aintree fences

The campaigners claim the Grand National pushes horses to their limits. The group says 29 animals have died at the Liverpool racetrack since 1997.

This figure was quoted to the Jockey Club's public relations department by BBC News and was not disputed.

Protesters spokeswoman Anna Harris said: "When people realise the cruelty involved...many people will not place bets."

Jockey club spokesman Owen Byrne countered the claims saying: "Aintree Racecourse and the Jockey Club work together with the RSPCA and where concern has been expressed by them over a certain fence, changes are made.

"Becher's Brook (fence) has been changed as a result of discussions with the RSPCA and their equine consultant, David Muir."

A statement from the Jockey Club says: "These changes have significantly improved the welfare of racehorses and show that the RSPCA's way of working with the racing industry is worthwhile and can bring about significant improvements to the welfare of racehorses."