CAMPAIGNERS have declared victory today as it emerged dog meat may be banned from a massive food festival in China.

At its height the Yulin festival saw between 10,000-15,000 pups and other creatures slaughtered and eaten over 10 days.

16 A caged dog ahead of last year's Yulin festival. Dog meat has now been banned Credit: EPA

16 Campaigners organised several protests against the vile festival Credit: EPA

16 Dogs were caged before being bludgeoned to death and cooked Credit: EPA

16 A dog and cat farmer transports the poor animals to the festival in China Credit: EPA

16 Cat meat is still currently allowed at the Yulin festival Credit: EPA

16 Police can slap £11,000 fines on anyone disobeying the new ban Credit: EPA

But high-profile protests backed by celebs including the late Carrie Fisher, Ricky Gervais and Sharon Osbourne have now seen the practice halted, according to local media.

Over 11 million people last year signed a petition organised by Humane Society International and other charities which was handed into the local government.

It is the first time dog meat - a delicacy in parts of Asia - has been taken off the menu since the festival began in 2009.

16 Campaigners said animals are treated horrifically at the massive festival Credit: EPA

16 As many as 10,000-15,000 dogs and other creatures were slaughtered at the height of the Yulin festival Credit: Getty Images

16 Campaigners organised a petition that was signed 11million times calling for the festival to be halted Credit: Reuters

16 Puppies wait for the slaughter at last year's Yulin festival Credit: EPA

16 A dog is sold for meat. Dog meat is a delicacy in parts of Asia Credit: EPA

16 Sellers wait to trade their dogs for meat Credit: AP:Associated Press

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Pups were kept in tiny cages and bludgeoned to death before being skinned and cooked whole.

Communist officials working under the area's new Party Secretary Mo Gong Ming will oversee the ban, which comes into effect on June 15 — a week before the festival begins.

16 Poor pups prepare for slaughter at last year's Yulin festival Credit: EPA

16 Dogs were skinned and cooked whole at the 10-day event Credit: Getty Images

16 Barbaric festival-goers would treat dogs appallingly Credit: Getty Images

16 Dogs were lined up and sold for meat Credit: EPA

Police will have the authority to issue huge £11,000 fines to anyone breaching the new order.

Animal rights advocates are not turning their attention away from the festival just yet.

That's because the sale of CAT meat is still being allowed.

But campaigners are still optimistic that the ban is a move in the right direction.

“Even if this is a temporary ban, we hope this will have a domino effect, leading to the collapse of the dog meat trade,” Andrea Gung, executive director of Duo Duo Project, told Time magazine.

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