Crufts' live final disrupted by Peta animal activists Published duration 12 March 2018

media caption Moment Crufts final disrupted by Peta animal activists

Intruders disrupted the live broadcast of the Crufts dog show as the top prize was awarded.

Two intruders, said by Crufts to be part of animal rights group Peta, ran into the show arena at Birmingham's NEC as the winner claimed her prize.

Yvette Short, from Edinburgh, grabbed two-year-old whippet Tease as the protesters were wrestled to the ground amid boos from the audience.

Crufts and the NEC said security would be reviewed as "a matter of urgency".

image copyright PA image caption Two-year-old whippet Tease had just been named Best in Show when the protest began

A Crufts spokesperson said the intruders "scared the dogs and put the safety of both dogs and people at risk in a hugely irresponsible way".

In a statement the animal rights group said Crufts is a "cruel beauty pageant" that rewards breeders "for producing dogs with 'ideal' physical traits with little or no regard for their welfare".

image copyright Reuters image caption The protesters were apprehended by security staff

"Breeding pedigree dogs in abnormal shapes and sizes leaves them with genetic predispositions to epilepsy, heart disease, deafness, hip dysplasia, and numerous other health problems," it said, citing particular problems among bulldogs and pugs.

No dogs were harmed during the incident.

Ms Short said she felt "absolutely ecstatic" following the triumph, but was scared at the time and what happened "spoilt it a little bit".

She said: "It wasn't necessary... they're animal lovers and the animal lovers went and scared this little animal [Tease]... I've got no sympathy for them.

"I think she was a little bit scared... she was shaking, yeah, and it was our moment, but she's recovered."

The group had claimed a macaque monkey called Naruto - which took the picture on David Slater's camera - was the author and owner of the image and should therefore own the copyright.

The case went in favour of Mr Slater but, pressured by the group, he agreed to donate 25% of any future revenue from the photograph to charities dedicated to protecting macaques' habitat or welfare.

image copyright Wildlife Personalities/David J Slater image caption Peta claimed the monkey, named Naruto, should own the copyright of the image