PLANS to ban animal circuses on council land in Chester-le-Street have been put on hold while the public are consulted using a coupon system.

A meeting of the executive at Chester-le-Street District Council this week agreed to quiz the public on the issue using a coupon in its District News magazine, which is posted throughout the area.

When the next issue is published in March, council bosses will have their first comprehensive study on the issue.

North-East Animal Rights Coalition, which is campaigning for a ban on animal circuses, last week presented a 2,000 signature petition backing its stance to the council.

The group's spokeswoman Joanna Walker said: "I think the people who signed the petition will be interested to know the council are ignoring their views and have yet to ban it."

A council spokeswoman said that feelings are strong on both sides of the issue so it is only proper to ask people's views.