IN response to the article about the animal circus in York (March 22) I should first like to point out that the animal rights group York Animal Aid is a peaceful organisation.

We will be demonstrating outside the Great British Circus (formerly known as Circus Harlequin) during the coming fortnight.

We also demonstrated outside the York riding stables when the last animal circus came to town, but there was no such incident as traffic-blocking. There were five of us, so how we could have achieved this even if we had wanted to?

It is amusing that people campaigning against animal cruelty are called terrorists, yet anyone who spent any time with them would realise they are the gentlest and sincerest bunch of people who are simply fighting for a more compassionate world.

It is never reported in the media when an animal rights campaigner's car is burned out, or when they are beaten up by angry hunt supporters or circus workers (I am not talking about the Great British Circus here).

In response to Mrs Marchi's comments about threats, I find it bizarre that she refuses to reveal the nature of them.

I also find it incredible that she can say animal rights campaigners don't work with animals when she doesn't know any of them. Many, including myself, do animal rescue and sanctuary work in our spare time.

I urge people not to visit this circus because those touring with animals have no place in the 21st century. They belong in the history books.

For more information on the suffering of circus animals, please visit www.captiveanimals.org

Darren Shaw,

York Animal Aid,

Address supplied.

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, March 25, 2004