NOW that Christmas is on the horizon and our thoughts are once again turning to Christmas shopping, may I appeal to readers of The Citizen to choose carefully if they are giving cosmetics as presents.

Despite the voluntary ban, cosmetics, perfumes and aftershaves etc, are still on sale in Britain which have been tested on animals abroad, or if the final product has not, the ingredients will have been, which is often clearly stated on the container or packaging as "final product not tested on animals".

There are outlets in Blackpool which do sell completely cruelty free products, so please spare a thought for the thousands of laboratory animals forced to endure cruel and painful tests and choose a gift of love made with kindness this Christmas.

Josephene Harwood,

Moor Park Avenue, Blackpool.