THE greyhound industry is "in denial" about the fate of thousands of dogs which are slaughtered in "canine killing fields" after they pass their racing prime, the chairman of a cross-party animal welfare group said today.

Eric Martlew MP says he will be urging his colleagues to launch an urgent inquiry into dog racing after reports today that a County Durham builder's merchant has killed and buried at least 10,000 animals at his home

The Government today also said it will look at a Sunday Times investigation which claims David Smith spent the past 15 years filling land at his home in the village of Seaham with canine carcasses.

Carlisle MP Mr Martlew said the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare will hold an urgent meeting about the case tomorrow and he will press for an immediate inquiry.

'Appalling'

He said: "This is absolutely appalling.

"It's time the industry cleaned up its act.

"For a long time now people have thought this kind of thing has been going on but without any evidence.

"I think the industry is in denial about it.

"There must have been hundreds if not thousands of people in the industry that knew what this man was doing.

"I also suspect this isn't the only canine killing field like this.

"There are probably others around the country."

'Commodities'

Mr Martlew said too many people in dog racing saw the animals simply as "commodities".

He said that despite the good work of charities who work to rehome greyhounds, the problem of hundreds of healthy dogs being killed every year has been a concern for animal welfare groups for many years.

Today, the minister for animal welfare Ben Bradshaw said he was shocked by the reports.

He said: "It sounds horrendous and we would be interested in seeing the evidence that's been gathered in this case."

The Sunday Times said it covertly filmed Mr Smith receiving greyhounds, killing them with a bolt gun and then burying them on a plot at the back of his home with a digger.

The dogs were considered to be past their racing prime by their trainers.

Under current law no licence is needed to put down animals with a bolt gun.

Mr Smith said it took him three years to fill the field and then, as the bodies has decomposed, he would start filling it again.

é10 charge

The paper quoted one unnamed trainer saying Mr Smith had buried at least 10,000 dogs at his home.

He said he charged é10 a time for the service.

Alistair McLean, chief executive of the National Greyhound Racing Club , which governs the sport, told the Sunday Times Smith's actions amounted to a "euthanasia factory" and promised an inquiry.

He added: " We categorically don't endorse this kind of thing."

The paper confronted Smith who said he had been killing the dogs for "humane" reasons but would now stop.

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