One dozen turkeys will go to a pet refuge in Cambridgeshire after a race which originally would have sent the losers to the Christmas dinner table.

The race at a Greyhound track was cancelled following pressure by the RSPCA, but has been rescheduled for a different location.

The RSPCA said the Gobble Cup stakes, originally due to take place at Walthamstow dog track in north-east London, was cruel no matter what happened to the birds afterward.

According to Blue Square, an interactive gambling site taking bets on the outcome, the turkeys will not be harmed in the race on 20 December.

'Stressful situation'

The RSPCA said most turkeys bred for the table are reared in poor conditions in dimly-lit sheds - putting on weight very quickly - and are not suited to a running contest.

Spokesperson Helen Briggs said: "Using them in this way for such a stunt just adds insult to an already abused animal."

"Setting up such a race will involve will expose the birds to a potentially stressful situation."

She said that turkeys needed legal protection to improve their living conditions on farms, not "publicity stunts".

The race was originally to have been screened in France, Germany and Russia, and broadcast on the internet.

Blue Square said that all 12 birds would retire to the exotic pets refuge in Peakirk, north of Peterborough after the race.