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A Chinese festival that lasts just three days will see around 10,000 dogs eaten in a food orgy.

Residents in the city of Yulin have already begun killing and skinning the animals after deciding to start the festival early to avoid campaigners trying to stop it.

Pictures of the gala - to celebrate the longest day of the year on Saturday - shows hundreds of dogs strung up, skinned and cooked in local markets.

Critics claims many of the dogs are family pets that have been stolen to order in the months leading up to the festival.

Photos show residents tucking into plates of meat, vegetables and lychees with more dogs hanging from hooks at street stalls or piled on tables.

Deng Yidan, an activist with Animals Asia, said: "Negative coverage is growing — dog theft, criminal activities, food hygiene issues, and rabies fears - together these have brought significantly more negative publicity to Yulin than economic benefits."

Local tradition claims eating dog and lychees and drinking liquor on the summer solstice makes people stay healthy during winter.

But animal rights activists say the event is a public health risk because the dogs are not checked for diseases and are often strays grabbed off the street or stolen from pet owners.

The festival should have started this weekend but critics claim it actually started last weekend because of the growing criticism from animal campaigners.

The public outcry - much of it online - is a sign of the increasing affluence of ordinary Chinese who have started to keep pets and are more aware of international sensibilities because of overseas travel.

China's National People's Congress has not yet signed a law that would punish animal abusers with a 6000 yuan (£565) fine.