Grand National protest falls at the first hurdle

THE world's greatest steeplechase went ahead after police and racing fans foiled an attempt by animal rights activists to sabotage it.

- Jon Coates and Jerry Lawton

Protesters had posed as racegoers to get into Aintree in a bid to prevent the 175th running of the Grand National.

Some ran on to the racecourse near Liverpool in suits and cocktail dresses, while one even sported a dickie bow.

Others activists wore pink T-shirts as members of the group Animal Rising, which claims horse racing is cruel, tried to scale perimeter fences at a remote part of the track with ladders.

At least two fixed themselves to the second fence and another at the Canal Turn with glue and lockon devices.

But the mass protest was foiled by racing fans who joined police and security guards in hauling off the invaders.

Multiple officers were seen carrying a man off the course after cutting off part of a fence he had attached himself to. There were a total of 118 arrests.

The race, which had been due to start at 5.15pm, was delayed by 14 minutes but passed off without further incident.

A capacity crowd of almost 70,000 people had packed into the stands at Aintree under sunny skies and cheered as it got underway.