Show-jump cloning plan falls at the first fence

An attempt to clone horses for show-jumping has been banned by the Government.

A horse-breeding expert who applied for a licence for equine cloning accused ministers of "wimpishness" today for rejecting his application.

Professor Twink Allen, of Cambridge University's equine fertility unit, said fear of animal rights protests was behind the decision.

Show-jumping horses are usually geldings so cannot breed. Professor Allen plans to overcome the problem by cloning champions which can be used to breed rather than competing.

"We have no method of selecting the superior males and females to produce the better genetic stock and this is a technique that will allow that to take a quantum leap forward," he told Radio 4's Today.

Home Office minister Caroline Flint denied the Government was afraid of protests and claimed the procedure was not scientifically justified.

"That is not to say we are against the cloning of animals but we have to be justified of the benefits," she said.

"As far as issues around animal rights extremists are concerned, we are totally opposed to the activities of harassment and illegal behaviour."

Professor Allen says he will appeal, claiming other scientists agree there would be major benefits. The RSPCA backs the Government's decision. Cloning is already banned in horse racing.