I HAVE followed the Echo's articles about the Great British Circus over the last few weeks and cannot help thinking, what great publicity for the circus.

I am not 100 per cent in favour of wild animals being in a circus but the likes of camels and horses are, after all, domestic creatures.

The life these animals lead is no different to the world's top show jumpers who spend most of the year travelling and at horse shows.

I also think that all the animals involved are probably better looked after than most domestic pets.

These animals are the bread and butter for the circus so I am sure they are not mistreated in any way.

My family and I went to the circus while it was in Waddington – it was many years since I last went to one and I was intrigued to see what all the fuss was about.

As for the loss of the field for dog walkers, there are plenty of places in the area to walk and I can well believe that the circus workers had to clean up dog mess first.

Even along the river bank, walkers have to avoid stepping in dog mess. Why is it not picked up everywhere by everybody?

It is a responsibility that some dog owners think they are exempt from.

If the circus also brought in revenue for the parish council, then it can only be a good thing.

R. PONDER Lincoln.

Much has been said over the past few weeks on the subject of animal cruelty, mostly because of the circus and the training of animals.

It begs the question, do any of these objectors have cats, dogs, budgies, pet mice, even rats?

The latter three, unfortunately, have to be kept in cages, mostly for their own safety, as the first, no doubt, would have them for breakfast.

Animals have been trained to do the bidding of humankind since the beginning of time.

We applaud the flight of the well trained hawk as it responds to the call of its handler; the collie rounding up the farmer's sheep; the magnificent posture of a well trained horse as it is proudly presented in dressage.

The dedication of the people to the training of these animals is of the highest order. There is respect and feeling in their actions.

To round off, may I remind those animal rights activists that, because of the dedication of these people who train animals, many lives have been saved.

A. BADDILEY North Hykeham.

I think the circus is really good; they look after their animals.

I watched the last show in Skellingthorpe and when the animals did their performance they were always treated well.

When the performance finished you were able to go and see the animals.

They have always been well fed, so I don't think the circus is mistreating them.

I think the animal protesters should look at all the animals in the world that are being abandoned and cruelly treated.

The circus is doing nothing wrong

JEMMA PUTT Calder Road, Lincoln.