AFTER recent revelations of hypocrisy and dual standards being practised by the Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS), its director Diane Westwood accused Blackpool Zoo of getting its facts wrong.

This was in relation to reports of their current listed directors and also the timing of a subsequent resignation from another organisation by local animal rights activist Pat Simpson.

We would like to point out that Companies House and the Charities Commission provided the facts stated. Furthermore CAPS, Ms Westwood and their colleagues from Care for the Wild International originally supplied this information to the two governing bodies in annual returns.

It is evident by Ms Westwood's false accusations and her refusal to sack a current director of CAPS who openly supports policies which are condemned by her own organisation that CAPS still intends to practise selective ethics and will continue to mislead its supporters.

As a limited company CAPS has a legal obligation to ensure that its directors fulfil their duties in a correct and proper manner. Similarly, they are also required by law to register resignations with the actual date of termination. Their failure to ensure directors' good behaviour or incorrectly reporting a resignation can lead to permanent bans on existing directors and severe fines for the company responsible for improper conduct.

Companies House and the Charity Commission can provide details of all listed companies including current and past directors and also recent and historic financial accounts. Anyone financially supporing charitable or similar organisations can ensure that their gestures are being completely acknowledged in the manner that they intend by checking company records to ensure no conflicts of interest.

We trust that Ms Westwood and her fellow directors will now begin to reassure their supporters by practising a clear and open policy by severing all links with Care for the Wild International and by sticking to their own facts.

Signed by Tony Williams and all members of the Unison union at Blackpool Zoo,

East Park Drive, Blackpool.