CIRCUS animals could be banned from performing in a district of north Durham after protests from animal rights campaigners.
Officers at Chester-le-Street District Council have recommended councillors ban exotic creatures from performing, after protests from three animal rights groups at a circus in the town, earlier this year.
Councillors deferred their decision, requesting more information.
Animal rights protestors demonstrated peacefully outside the Great British Circus, outside Chester-le-Street, in August, and the Animal Rights Coalition wrote to the council.
Several members of the public also complained. Earlier demonstrations during a visit by the circus in 1995 had to be quelled by police.
In a report to councillors, it is claimed that 73 per cent of people polled recently felt it was unacceptable for exotic animals to perform.
A spokesman for the council said that councillors had requested more information, including the numbers of visitors to the circus.
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