A festival has cancelled a race using real sheep after a petition of more than 60,000 names forced organisers to tweak the event.
Llandovery Sheep Festival in Carmarthenshire was billed as ‘the best woolly fun you’ll have this year’.
But a petition calling for the "cruel" event to be banned has attracted more than 60,000 signatures, prompting the festival to confirm it won't use real sheep to race.
Samantha Francis, 42, of St Ives, Cambridgeshire, who set up the petition, said Llandovery’s sheep race was the third one she had campaigned against and seen cancelled.
Members of the public will now take part in the run – dubbed the drovers’ derby.
The updated petition now reads: "Wow! After this petition showed organisers the level of opposition to sheep racing, Llandovery Sheep Festival have told us that they have decided not to use real live sheep in their sheep race this year, citing animal welfare concerns.
"They have some other plans afoot which sound like fun, so please show your appreciation on their Facebook page, and if you're local do attend their event on 23-24 September."
It follows the cancellation of the Wooditton, Newmarket sheep race.
