The Western Daily Press has won a prestigious award in recognition of its fight to stamp out animal cruelty at home and abroad.

The RSPCA has given the Bristol-based newspaper its 2005 regional media award for its campaigns to protect defenceless animals.

Readers donated £40,000 in just seven days after the WDP highlighted the plight of 7,000 bears kept in captivity in China, where they are drained of their bile for use in traditional medicine. And the money is still pouring in to rescue the bears and put them into a sanctuary.

The newspaper has also published a series of heartbreaking stories and pictures of animals which have been mistreated in the Bristol area – including a pony dumped down a well and a doberman starved to death by its owner.

The RSPCA praised the newspaper for its coverage and thanked it for the “real difference” it makes to help bring those responsible for animal abuse to justice.

Editor Terry Manners said: “The Western Daily is pledged to fight animal abuse wherever it might be.

“Sometimes the pictures that we use are heartbreaking, and some would say distasteful. But unless we bring home to our readers the horror of man’s inhumanity to the animal kingdom, we will never be able to help defenceless creatures who are unable to help themselves.

“We did not enter for this award. We were chosen from the print and broadcasting media across the nation, and so we are doubly proud that we have been recognised as a newspaper that fights with heart and determination.”

RSPCA South West spokeswoman Jo Barr said: “Unlike some other organisations – and despite occasional criticism from some of its readers – the Daily Press continues to print pictures of animal cruelty, both as part of prosecution cases and when we are appealing for information.

They have yet to ‘refuse’ a picture and believe that, as difficult as it may be, the public should be aware of the cruelty that animals face as the result of neglect, ignorance or acts of deliberate cruelty.

“Their readers are very fortunate to have such a responsible regional paper.”

The award will be presented to the Western Daily Press at the RSPCA’s annual meeting on June 25.