Sponsored by
Circus targeted by animal campaigners
CIRCUS boss Martin Burton is facing daily protests from animal rights campaigners when his big top arrives in Sheffield tomorrow.
Martin, owner of Zippo's circus, which is coming to Endcliffe Park, said: "I'll call the police if they start abusing my customers."
Sheffield Animal Friends (SAF), which has picketed local restaurants for selling foie gras, claims in an email to supporters the circus has "a wide number of domestic and exotic animals in their performances".
It further claims Zippo's has "behaved aggressively to members of the public, including children, when questioned about the morality of such practices".
But Martin, who sometimes appears as Zippo the clown, says the only animals he has are four horses, three ponies, a dozen budgies and a Jack Russell terrier.
And he claims the last time the circus was targeted by animal rights protesters, in Brighton, it was they who attacked customers.
"They said to one father if he was taking his children into the circus he was a child abuser," said Martin.
He said he had brought in an animal expert to advise Zippo's on housing its horses and the circus had been held up as a model.
Martin, who didn't introduce animals until 1995 by public request, said he defended their right to protest peacefully.
In an email, SAF says it plans to protest at every performance. The circus is in town from tomorrow until Tuesday September 30.
John Whittle of SAF said: "It will be a friendly and completely legal and peaceful demonstration.
"It is not acceptable in this day and age to have animals in circuses."
Calls and emails from The Star to SAF went unanswered.
nCIRCUS performers silenced from playing trumpets in Birmingham will go ahead with their act when it comes to the city.
Officials said that clowns would have to drop the musical part of their act because the Licensing Act forbids the playing of live music without a licence.
But Sheffield Council said its interpretation of the law was incidental performances of music did not require a licence, and are permitted under the circus's temporary event notice.
Steve Lonnia, the authority's chief licensing officer, said: "They have gone through proper channels to gain access to our park."
READ MORE
Main news index
Your letters.
Features
More Rotherham news
More Doncaster news
More Barnsley news
Check out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic section
Latest sport.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
