Three England international footballers are backing a campaign demanding an end to the torture of cats and dogs in one of the host countries of this year's World Cup.

Liverpool stars Michael Owen, Jamie Redknapp and Emile Heskey have signed a petition organised by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta).

Peta says dogs and cats in South Korea are hanged, beaten, burned and boiled alive before they are slaughtered and eaten.

Owen and Heskey - who are expected to play for England in the World Cup this summer - along with Redknapp, wrote on the petition: "We respectfully urge the government of South Korea to ensure that cats and dogs receive full protection from intentional cruelty and torture."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has also urged the Korean government to take "immediate and decisive measures to put an immediate end to this cruelty".

A spokeswoman for Peta said: "Before dogs are eaten, they are often strung up and beaten. Then they are burned about their bodies, purportedly to improve their flavour.

"Cats are thrown alive into boiling water to extract their juice for use in tonics.

"The animals are kept in tiny, filthy cages for prolonged periods prior to their awful deaths."

Other celebrities who have backed the campaign include Pamela Anderson, Jackie Chan and Bryan Adams.