A CONTROVERSIAL lion show has been axed from the line-up of this year's Herefordshire Country Fair following pressure from an animal protection campaign group.

Thomas Chipperfield was due to bring his two lions to the fair for four performances on August 2.

The big cats were set to be on display in their living quarters all day and a feeding session was also lined up.

But Animal Defenders International (ADI) attracted more than 12,000 signatures on an online petition calling for event organisers to cancel what it called a "Victorian" form of entertainment.

And their call was answered this week when organisers of the fair – which is this year to stage a First World War commemoration – announced they had cancelled the show.

In a statement, Herefordshire Country Fair said: "After representations from various groups and individuals there has been careful and thoughtful discussion about the lions at this year’s fair among our committee members who have decided that they do not wish to engage in something which may detract from a day intended to be an enjoyable celebration of rural activities and businesses, not to mention the wonderful cavalry display that will be in remembrance of those men and indeed horses of the county that made the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War.

"Our core aim, is as ever to engage the public in a celebration of country life and to raise funds for local charities."

Thomas Chipperfield is the UK's only lion tamer and his family once owned the biggest circus in Europe with a herd of 16 elephants and 200 other animals.

ADI said the lions live in cages alongside three tigers and the lives that the big cats endure are in 'stark contrast' to those they would have in the wild.

ADI president, Jan Creamer, said: "We are delighted that the Herefordshire Country Show has had a change of heart and pulled this Victorian lion act.

"Public opinion is clear – it is offensive in this day and age to make wild animals perform in the name of entertainment, and widely accepted that animals’ welfare needs cannot be met.

"The government must take action to pass long overdue legislation to prohibit wild animal acts."

Herefordshire Country Fair is this year raising funds for St Michaels Hospice. It takes place at Caradoc on August 2.