start in the new year and would ensure not only set standards of welfare for existing circus animals but also comprehensive plans for the retirement of those animals when the ban takes effect. "Given the circumstances of constant travel, we don't believe it is a realistic solution to attempt to license circuses and set welfare standards. "Wild animals in circuses live in extremely confined spaces and spend large amounts of their time chained, caged and unable to perform natural behaviours, causing them to perform abnormal, repetitive behaviours indicating the psychological distress and the animal's inability to cope with its environment. Anne the elephant was moved to Longleat Safari Park "This causes levels of suffering which can be worse than some of the violence." Those who work or have worked in animal circuses agree animals should be well looked after. Sandor Foldi, of Bury St Edmunds, was once dragged across the stage of Olympia by a runaway bear when he worked as a circus hand. "I think people do enjoy seeing the animals at the circus and how they react to humans," he said. "We had horses, bears, lions and elephants and they were nicely looked after. "But that was a different time and we have heard recently about people beating their animals up. That, people do not like." Norfolk author Doug McPherson, an expert on the Big Top, said: "Circuses and animals have been inseparable in history. "Animals have always been there. If you go back before the television age,