EVERY year, the RSPCA releases its animal cruelty statistics and they have become depressingly predictable.

The number of cases keeps rising and the North-East is repeatedly shown to be among some of the worst offending regions in the country.

The Northern Echo has the sad duty to highlight appalling, heartbreaking cases of animals being neglected, tortured, and killed in horrific ways.

At long last, something is being done about it. The Animal Welfare Bill, which will strengthen legislation to stop such cruelty, was unveiled yesterday.

It lays the foundations for a change in the law which was badly needed. Most significantly, it enables preventative action to be taken before animals are harmed. Punishments will be tougher, loopholes which allow offenders to escape justice will be closed, and children will have to be 16, instead of 12, before they can buy a pet.

Of course, the new legislation will not stop animals being mistreated. And there are still issues which require further examination, such as the tail-docking of dogs and the use of animals in circuses.

But we welcome the announcement by the Government as a very positive step towards protecting animals from humans.