EAST Lancashire dog trainers have said they have been left in shock after hearing a dog had allegedly been poisoned at Crufts.

Dozens of competitors from the region entered the nationally televised contest, with East Lancashire spaniel Lara taking the coveted Best of Breed title.

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Her trainer Charles Holgate from Colne said he was shocked that Irish setter Jagger had died after the competition, having allegedly eaten beef laced with poison.

And the organiser of Crufts has confirmed show bosses are looking into reports that a second dog, a shih tzu, has died following the event.

Mr Holgate, 64, from Skipton Old Road said: “I couldn’t believe it when I heard that a dog had been poisoned at Crufts.

“It looks like it was a random attack and its worrying to think that it could easily have been one of our dogs that was targeted instead.

“It hasn’t put me off entering again, however we would certainly be keeping a much closer eye on our dogs and will be a lot more vigilant.

“Crufts is much busier than other dog shows with a lot more members of the public attending. I had been worried about people stealing my stuff but I hadn’t even considered that someone could do that to a dog.

“I think it would be nearly impossible to find out who was responsible with how many people were at the show.”

Another of Mr Holgate’s dogs, spaniel Laclan also won a Junior Warrant show certificate of merit, while his other spaniel Fergus won reserved best dog.

Sylvia Heyhurst, from Blackburn. entered her three Shetland sheepdogs into the competition but came away without any awards.

She said she had been reluctant to leave her dogs alone since hearing the news.

Ms Heyhurst said: “It’s absolutely awful what happened but not at all unheard of. I think it is most likely someone who was jealous of the competitor.

“Since hearing of dreadful attacks on competition dogs like this I have been very careful not to leave my dogs alone.

“However even when I was sat with one of my dog someone came up and started stroking one when I had turned around for a split second. It could easily happen in a matter of a few moments.”