RSPCA volunteers have been praised by the charity

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) says it is amazed at the number for the Yorkshire and North East region.

The charity says its 24 branches in the region - many manned by volunteers - have worked "flat out" for most of the year.

RSPCA regional manager Alan Wolinski said: "The release of these figures just goes to show how hard our volunteers and staff works in this region to promote animal welfare.

"These figures are staggering, especially when you consider the majority of these branches are made up only of volunteers, people who year after year invest time and effort into helping animals.

"Without the work of the branches, the RSPCA would not be able to offer the vital service it does."

Home checks

The new figures follow recent news confirming Yorkshire and the North East as England's worst place for animal cruelty.

Across the region, 9,031 home checks were made by volunteers and 3,726 post-adoption home visits.

In 2002, a total of 18,500 complaints were investigated involving animals which had been shot, stabbed, starved and dumped - the highest number in the charity's 10 regions.

The charity spent an average of �200 per rescued animal in the region in 2002.