CAMPAIGNERS staged a protest outside a circus visiting Chepstow last week over its use of animals.

Protestors from Cardiff Animal Rights held up banners and handed out leaflets outside Chepstow Racecourse to voice concerns over Circus Mondao’s use of animals last week.

The circus, which is fully licensed and regulated by DEFRA, says it has high animal welfare and husbandry standards.

But Cardiff Animal Rights has called on the public to boycott the circus over its use of animals.

A spokesman for the group said: “There are plenty of fantastic travelling circuses that do not use animals that are thriving.

“Mondao is outdated animal cruelty and we will be continuing our protests at their circus for as long as they are here forcing animals to perform.

“We ask the public to boycott them in the interest of the welfare of the animals involved.”

The protests were held after campaign group Animal Defenders International called on people to avoid the show ahead of its arrival in Chepstow.

The circus has two camels, two reindeer, and one zebra.

Linda Joyce-Jones, who has presented a petition to the Welsh Assembly urging it to ban the use of animals in circuses, also spoke out against the “outdated practice.”

“Every animal welfare organisation agrees this is detrimental to the animal’s welfare by being carted around for people’s entertainment,” she said.

Holly Turner, who took part in one of the protests outside Chepstow Racecourse, said she believes there is no longer a need to use animals in circuses.

“A travelling circus is so far removed from their natural habitat,” she said.

“People can be so wonderfully talented that there is no longer a need to exploit and use animals in this way.

“I hope that we can all start enjoying a cruelty-free circus sooner than 2020 and that the animals working for the last two travelling circuses in the UK that still exploit animals, find themselves in a permanent home in sanctuary soon.”

But Petra Jackson, ringmistress at the circus, said the show proved popular.

"We had a wonderful time while at Chepstow," she said.

"(There was a) really good turn out and lots of people saying how much they loved seeing a proper circus with animals."

Ms Jackson said there was a protest by a "small group" on Thursday and Friday.