Animal welfare campaigners have urged the public to shun a circus which uses animals - and has a 54-year-old arthritic elephant. The Captive Animals' Protection Society criticised Bobby Roberts Circus for its use of animals including horses, a camel, dogs, and Anne the elephant. Anne is no longer part of the show, but is transported with the circus so that visitors can have their photographs taken with her. Craig Redmond, campaigns manager for CAPS, said Bobby Roberts Circus, which is at Marston Fields Farm in Kingsbury until October 7, was one of just nine in the UK to still use animals. CAPS received more complaints about Bobby Roberts Circus than any other in the UK, he added. A family walked out of the circus's Sheffield performance last week, disgusted at the use of animals. The Animal Welfare Act, which came into force in April 2007, will ban the use of some animals in circuses from 2008. CAPS is urging the Government to end the use of all animals. Craig said: "CAPS is not opposed to circuses, only to the use of animals. We would encourage people to avoid those circuses that still use animals and instead visit one of the many excellent circuses that rely only on human skills. In the 21st century there can be no excuse for continuing to allow the treatment of animals in this way." Anne the Elephant in the ring, and with Bobby Roberts. Courtesy Captive Animals' Protection Society The circus has also fallen foul of advertising rules. The Advertising Standards Authority ordered it last year to stop claiming that it has been voted A statement from Bobby Roberts on the circus website defended his position on Anne. Mr Roberts said the elephant was part of the family, that standards of animal care were excellent, and that Anne received the best possible veterinary care. He said Anne would 'pine away and die' if separated from the circus. The statement includes a comment from vet Michael Fielding, an expert in zoo and circus animal care. Mr Fielding's statement reads: "I have worked with Mr Roberts and Anne for many years and animal welfare has always been of paramount importance in his circus. Anne has become habituated to the circus routine over many years and in my opinion there would be minimal benefit in moving her at this time in her life. "If she was taken away to join another group of elephants she would need to re-establish her place in the social order in her new environment, which could be extremely stressful. She is an old animal requiring constant care and her arthritis means she will need repeated treatment which I am fully confident she will get in her current home. "Therefore I believe Anne will be more content in her current environment than in any other place to which she could be moved and she should be allowed to live out what remains of her life in her familiar surroundings." | 
