A BLACKPOOL councillor has lodged an official complaint against zoo bosses after a row about an animal rights group turned sour.

Tory leader Peter Callow has called for an investigation after Blackpool Zoo staff made what he described as "an attack" on animal rights group CAPS and told him "half-truths" about the contents of a parcel sent to the zoo from America in 1999.

Coun Callow said: "What I have demanded to know is who authorised that attack on CAPS? Was it a senior officer, or was it a political decision? Blackpool Borough Council has a policy where they don't attack individuals or organisations politically.

"Basically they are saying 'don't support CAPS'. I think that's a disgraceful attack by Blackpool Borough Council."

And part of his complaint was that zoo management -- council employees -- had told him "half-truths" about a package sent from America to the zoo in 1999.

He claims it contained electric prods for elephants but last week Councillor Roy Lewis refuted the claim telling councillors it actually contained fibre-glass handled elephant goads.

Coun Callow said CAPS should not be made political scapegoats because of their concern as to what was in the parcel.

Blackpool Zoo staff had condemned animal rights group the Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS) saying it spent thousands on travel and phone bills in 2000 -- and almost nothing on "animal issues".

CAPS has actively campaigned against some practices at Blackpool Zoo for some time.

A zoo spokesman said the move was "not political" but said staff were "concerned" that members of the public could be wrongly thinking their money was being spent directly on animal care.

The zoo released a copy of the balance sheet and summary of the profit and loss account for the year 2000 showing CAPS' income from donations, subscriptions, legacies and other sources from the year totalling more than £63,000 and a net profit of more than £12,000.

The figures also show advertising cost CAPS around £15,000 for the year, while travelling expenses and telephone costs together totalled almost £8,000.

A zoo spokesman said: "Staff at Blackpool Zoo are appalled at the financial activities of an organisation that purports to work towards the welfare of animals yet appears to make very little direct financial contribution to the issues they claimed to care about.

"Zoo staff say most of the five figure income was spent on administration and advertising with a massive £3,735 paying a well used telephone account, which they say is more than the zoo's annual phone bill.

"The only item relating directly to animals are two small payments of approximately £400 to 'German' and 'sponsored' tigers."

He added: "People should think twice about supporting organisations that spend hardly any of their annual income on actual animal welfare.

"Blackpool Zoo staff believe that the 2000 accounts demonstrate CAPS to be a wealthy organisation that spent virtually nothing on direct animal issues and that their financial contributors who believe they are supporting animal welfare should be made fully aware of where their money is actually going."

A spokesman for CAPS said: "It is without doubt a severe case of sour grapes. We are absolutely delighted that our campaign to expose Blackpool Zoo has had such an effect that they have been reduced to this level."

She added: "Our work involves education, lobbying for legislative change and, most importantly, exposing animal suffering. At the end of the day we are not a rescue organisation -- the money is spent on campaigns, whether that be lobbying MPs on the phone or arranging undercover investigations.

"Our members and supporters are kept very well informed of our campaigns and know exactly what we do. We have got absolutely nothing to hide."