A CIRCUS featuring wild animals has been refused permission to perform on land in a market town next year.

The Great British Circus wished to stage Freddy's Family Funtime Show on the upper Demesnes in Barnard Castle but Miss Elaine Minnighan, Teesdale District Council's head of legal services, said her concerns were that it was not the same scenario as a circus that used the lower Demesnes last year. There would be wild animals including llamas, lions and camels.

But if councillors were minded to approve the land's use, she would recommend they allow her to negotiate terms, with vet reports and all costs to be borne by the applicant.

Mr Alf Wilkinson, technical and contracts manager, said access to the upper Demesnes was poor and of indeterminate ownership. Residents had resurfaced it and they might have a comment about big wagons using it. But the circus could not set up on the lower Demesnes as there was no water for the animals. He pointed out that the water supply at the upper Demesnes was limited, coming from a half-inch pipe.

Coun John Watson was against the whole idea.

"Circuses with wild animals is not on, it's barbaric," he said. "We used to allow bear baiting and cock fighting, but society moves on and becomes more civilised."

Coun Madeleine Walton said she would be unhappy to shut the door on this until they had more information, but Miss Minnighan had had some difficulty in trying to contact the circus out of season.

Members decided to turn down the application.