An animal rights campaigner has launched a petition to scrap the annual sheep racing competition in Moffat.

The petition had gathered more than 21,000 signatures by Wednesday morning after only being launched by Samantha Ken-Francis 24 hours earlier.

Ms Francis recently got a similar event banned in Cambridgeshire by convincing Woodditton Parish Council to drop the event from its annual fete.

The protester has also written a song called I'm A Lamb with her husband Joshua against the "degrading and exploitative" race.

On the Moffat event, she said: "Naturally timid and quiet sheep will be made to race against each other through the streets with teddy bears strapped to their backs.

"This is exploitative, degrading and frightening for the sheep, as crowds will be lining the streets, cheering and shouting.

"Animals are not ours to use for entertainment."

Organisers of the event, to be held in the Dumfries and Galloway town on August 13, say the race will be a "great family day out" and they would not have support of the local farming community, including sheep handlers and shepherds, if it was cruel.

On the Moffat Sheep Races Facebook page, they say: "Each August we race sheep & their woollen jockeys down Moffat High Street, for the pure and simple joy of it."

The race, which is expected to attract thousands of spectators, will take place on Moffat High Street.

Betting stations will be available on the day for people to bet on the outcome of the race and fans can also visit a Moffat Farmers market, take a shot on bucking sheep and enjoy other entertainment put on by organisers.