DAWN raids near Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno saw two men arrested as part of campaign to crack down on “harrowing” badger baiting and animal abuse cases.

Two separate early morning raids on Wednesday, 8 February, saw one man from Blaenau Ffestiniog taken into custody as well as another man from Llandudno.

A heavy police presence was reported in the town at 8am shortly after the operation went “live”.

North Wales Police’s rural crime team worked alongside their colleagues in the dog section, firearms section, RSPCA officers and vets in a multi-agency effort entitled Operation Manhattan, which saw some officers working more than 17 hours straight.

Rob Taylor, team leader of the rural crime team and a long-time animal rights advocate, said he was shaken by what he saw that morning.

Speaking whilst the event was unfolding, Mr Taylor said: “This is a deeply distressing case - we’ve found animals with no food, water or bedding. Animals in terrible conditions. I can’t give too many details but it’s a very upsetting case to deal with. Awful, awful stuff.”

The rural crime team later released information that 42 dogs had been seized and passed on to the care of the RSPCA and that a third man had been arrested and a fourth brought in for questioning.

North Wales Police say they are continuing to look through evidence.