Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium is set to close (Picture: PA)

Animal cruelty charities have backed Sadiq Khan’s decision to support the closure of the last greyhound track in London.

Following a review initiated by his predecessor, the London Mayor returned the decision for the Plough Lane development to Merton Council, which had already sanctioned a new stadium for AFC Wimbledon.

‘We are delighted to see Sadiq Khan support the return of real sport, rather than a cruel sport, to Wimbledon,’ Tom Sheppard, Head of Public Affairs for the League Against Cruel Sports, told metro.co.uk.

‘The greyhound racing industry has shown itself to be incapable of prioritising dog welfare over profit.’




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Alex Revell of Northampton Town looks to play the ball watched by Paul Robinson (R) of AFC Wimbledon (Picture: Getty Images)

Dog charity GreyT Exploitations was also pleased, with a spokeswoman adding: ‘Greyhound racing will always depend on cruel practices to remain viable.’

Greyhound tracks in Wembley, West Ham, Clapton and Hackney have all disappeared and when Walthamstow shut in 2008, Wimbledon was left as the final place for race-lovers.

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) said it was disappointed with the decision.

A statement said: ‘The closure of the last greyhound stadium with a London post code is a big blow for the sport and the people of London.

‘GBGB hopes that any appeal by the neighbouring borough of Wandsworth is successful.’

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Wimbledon is the last greyhound stadium in London Picture: PA)

The new Plough Lane development would contain a 20,000 seat stadium, 602 homes and a leisure centre.

AFC Wimbledon, who were set up 13 years ago, currently play their home games at Kingsmeadow, in Kingston-upon-Thames.

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