THE Zoo Action group which is opposing the relocation of Southport Zoo to North Craven reported a successful protest on Easter Monday.

The group, led by Barnoldswick couple Rod and Sara Hartley, collected around 1,500 signatures against plans by Doug and Carole Petrie to move their rare and exotic small animals to the Yorkshire Dales Falconry Centre at Gigggleswick.

The demonstration outside the centre was one of 15 protests at zoos across the country to mark National Zoo Awareness Day.

Mr and Mrs Petrie have been given notice to quit the site at Southport in July when their current zoo licence expires.

But they dispute claims by the action group that they operate a cruel and badly run business.

Mrs Petrie said: "We have been given licences to run the zoo for 36 years and our animals are checked by a vet every four weeks.

"We do not plan to open a zoo with large animals - it is more like an extended animal farm. We will have less than 100 animals, including fish, turtles, tortoises monkeys, rabbits, ducks, flamingos, parrots, sheep, wallabies and llamas."

Mr Hartley said he joined the action group around three years ago after visiting the zoo.

He added: "We are trying to highlight the cramped conditions these animals are kept in," he said, adding that he and his wife travelled to Southport each weekend to hold a protest vigil.