TORBAY Liberal Democrat MP Adrian Sanders has been praised for his work in tackling cruelty to animals.

He was presented with an award by Protecting Animals in Democracy for his consistent campaigning in Westminster in the issue.

The certificate was in recognition of his full support for the action group's Vote4Animals 2010 manifesto in the run-up to the General Election.

Mr Sanders said: "I am very pleased to be awarded the Protecting Animals in Democracy certificate.

"Cruelty to animals is a shame on our society, and our political system needs to do more to protect them. I am dedicated to representing the many constituents who write to me about animal welfare problems.

"Many animals suffer because of political decisions, so I believe it is vital to speak up for these voiceless victims."

The PAD manifesto included policies such as support for the hunting ban, the abolition of battery cages and reducing the number of animals that suffer in experiments.

Dr Dan Lyons, of PAD, said: "The way we treat animals is a fundamental indication of the state of our society.

"Adrian Sanders' support for compassionate politics is, therefore, a sign that he has the character and ethics much needed to stand in Parliament and help enhance the integrity of our political system.

"We look forward to working with Adrian Sanders and other conscientious representatives to build a truly fair society where animals are treated as individual beings worthy of respect."