PROTESTERS angry about a circus that uses horses, ponies and one elephant are planning to hit the streets.

Swindon members of Captive Animals Protective Society are thinking about staging the demonstration outside at least one of the Marlborough performances of the Bobby Roberts' Circus, which will run from today until June 29.

The group say the circus is little more than a cruelty roadshow and are angry that the circus continues to transport one elephant, eight Arabian stallions, six falabella ponies and two dogs, around the country.

Organisers of the protest say the animals are trained to perform unnatural and cruel tricks and and say Anne, the 55-year-old elephant, should be allowed to retire.

CAPS member Craig Redmond said: "It's time to end the out-dated practice of forcing animals to perform for our amusement, particularly when there are lots of high-quality circuses that rely entirely on human skills.

"In the 21st century there can be no excuse for continuing to allow the treatment of animals in this way.

"Anne is not a pet as the circus claims, she is an elderly arthritic animal whose health can not be benefited by being carted around the country."

However, the circus say that Anne is extremely well treated and no longer has to perform but would die from shock if she was taken away from the circus because she has been with them since she was five.

Moira Roberts, the circus administrator, who has been with the circus for 42 years, says the circus is Anne's home.

She said: "The animals make up 11 minutes out of every two-and-a-half-hour performance.

"We are very proud of our animals, the protesters say that she doesn't have any other elephants to be around with but she doesn't need another elephant for company.

"The horses stand on their hind legs. But that is natural and they are not forced to do it.

"We do not answer to these protesters though, we answer to the people of Marlborough so when they want us out then that is when we will no longer show up."

An RSPCA spokesman said: "We believe the use of animals in circuses should be prohibited.

"Circuses have to transport animals.They are unable to recreate the environment necessary to allow animals to express natural behaviours."

A section in the new Animal Welfare Act, the charity hopes will come out this year, is expected to ban the use of some animals in circuses.

The circus is the only one of 30 working in the UK which has an elephant and one of only eight which use animals in acts.