AT this time of year circuses around the country are gearing up to take to the roads for an extensive tour lasting to the end of the year.

If a circus visits your area please take a moment to think: does this circus use animals?

And, if it does, please don't go.

The life of a circus animal is miserable. Their daily routine is one of deprivation and confinement - with little respite.

The Animal Defenders undertook an extensive 18-month undercover study into living conditions for circus animals in travelling circuses and permanent training centres. All species we examined displayed disturbed and stereotypic behaviour from lions and elephants to horses.

And then there's the physical and verbal abuse - animals are routinely moved about by use of iron bars, broom handles, violent screaming, whips and fists - whatever comes to hand.

The Animal Defenders are the group responsible for securing convictions against top circus animal trainer Mary Chipperfield, her husband Roger Cawley and their elephant keeper Michael Stephen Gills.

If Mary Chipperfield is supposed to represent the best of her 'profession', then can you imagine what the worst is like?

If you still want to take your children to an animal circus, the Animal Defenders have produced a video called The Ugliest Show On Earth - please watch this first and then make up your mind. For details call us on 0181-846-9777.

Shelley Simmons, Animal Defenders, Goldhawk Road, London

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.