Dogsey

A dog-fighting documentary which featured "particularly bloody" footage of fights has been cleared of breaching the broadcasting code after Ofcom received 1,736 complaints.

Channel 4's Going To The Dogs included scenes shot at dog fights at home and abroad with viewers complaining about cruelty to animals and the fact the identities of the people involved were hidden.

Some viewers also complained that the 75-minute film glamorised the criminal activity.

Channel 4 acknowledged the programme was "potentially offensive" but said " any offence caused was fully justified" and viewers had been warned that the show, which went out at 10pm, included " strong violent scenes".

Ofcom said the fight footage was " clearly capable of causing considerable offence" but was also " central to its journalistic purpose as a television programme".

It cleared the show of breaching the code, saying it " would not have exceeded the expectations of the majority of the audience" and said the fight footage was " unflinching and clearly demonstrated the grim reality of the practice".