A NELSON solicitor and North West Euro MP has called for the end to the illegal trading in animal skins.

Liberal Democrat member Sajjad Karim has signed a written declaration in the European Parliament backing the end to the illegal trading of tiger and leopard skins.

Mr Karim, who is chair of the party in Europe, said the countries all had a duty to prevent the trade because they had signed up to an United Nations convention blocking the sale of the skins of endangered species.

He said: "Tigers and leopards are endangered species and I am concerned about the role of organised criminal networks in the trafficking of tiger and leopard skins from India to China."