Protesters' claim using animals for entertainment is cruel.

ANIMAL welfare campaigners will picket a circus in Finsbury Park - railing against organisers using horses in the show for the first time in years.

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Protesters are planning to mass outside Zippo’s Circus from 6pm on Thurdsay, on the first night of a six day run, and hand out leaflets calling on visitors to boycott the event and oppose using animals for public entertainment.

A spokeswoman for the Captive Animals’ Protection Society, said: “Zippo’s are one of only seven circuses in the UK that continue to use animals. Last year we had quite a few complaints from members of the public about them mistreating the horses.”

The Big Top in the park will host two acts with horses by trained expert Yasmine Smart.

It will be the first time a venue in the borough has used animals in a circus show since Haringey Council temporarily lifted a ban in 2009.

The council is set to decide whether to get rid of the performing animal ban completely at the end of a year’s pilot next month.

Zippo’s insists their animals are properly cared for, stay in roomy paddocks and get plenty of daily exercise.