COUNCILLOR Tony Baxter's letter ('We've been denied rights to object to visit of circus', February 25) highlights the serious lack of regulation that animal circuses face.

Most people will be surprised to know that circuses with animals such as lions, tigers and elephants are able to move from town to town for most of the year with little control.

Zoos and private keepers of such animals have to be licensed and inspected, but not circuses.

An animal trainer has to register with their local council, but there is no qualification required.

As Cllr Baxter notes, the public cannot object to a circus's application for an entertainment licence even if, as in this case, it is setting up next to houses.

Even when they are inspected, not everything may be revealed.

Last year, this circus kept three elephants chained for 11 hours every night, but this was done after RSPCA and council officers had visited.

Additionally, there will obviously be problems of public access to the land for the two weeks it is there.

Given that the circus has big cats and other animals classed as dangerous wild animals we would certainly urge residents to be cautious.

We would like to thank local residents who have already been in touch with us via our website to express their concerns at the circus and ask for our assistance.

We urge people to avoid any circus with animals and instead visit one of the many brilliant all-human shows that tour.

CRAIG REDMOND Campaigns Director, The Captive Animals' Protection Society, Manchester.

Your picture accompanying Tony Baxter's letter (February 25) about the Great British Circus was a real delight, summing up in one shot the real qualities of this outdated entertainment.

Three tigers, two of which are rolling over at the same time, follow commands given to them by their master.

Does this tell us how these awesome creatures live?

No.

Does it tell us how they hunt, breed, eat, or die?

No.

Does it tell us anything meaningful about tigers?

No.

It does, though, tell us that you can force an animal to do things that have no relevance to it, if you train it hard enough.

It does tell us that carting an animal from one end of the country to another for months on end in an alien environment so it can perform tricks, is a warped idea of caring. And it does tell us that some people think power and status can be gained by trying to make animals look pathetic and sad.

The only really pathetic looking figure in this picture however, is the one who is standing and holding the stick.

ALISON MOORE Lecturer in media, culture and communications, University of Lincoln.