Four-year-old Gabriel Ryan takes part in a protest outside Bobby Roberts Circus on Knutsford Heath yesterday (March 30th). Bobby Roberts Circus had to erect a security fence around its giant tent for the first time in its history in the wake of a video showing Anne, one of its retired elephants, being abused.

Moira Roberts, 72, who helps run the circus told the BBC that  people who want a ban on all animals in circuses have their own agenda.

She said: “It’s like losing one of your children. The reason she’s going to Longleat is that we’re going to be allowed to be with her, to see her and to spend time with her.

“We feel that the animals are perfectly happy. More than 50 year old Anne couldn’t have survived if she hadn’t been well looked after.”

The Animal Rights protesters are calling for a ban on the use of all animals in circus acts.