A landowner has defended his right to allow a controversial circus perform on his property.

Farmer John Ludbrook, who owns the site in Cottingley being used by Circus King, said he could not see what all the fuss was about.

He spoke out in the wake of controversy about Circus King, which features Britain's last performing bear among its acts.

Animal-rights campaigners are appealing for the circus, at Cottingley, near Bingley, until Sunday, to give the bear to an animal sanctuary, condemning its use as cruel.

Mr Ludbrook,, said: "I think there's no problem with the bear. He is very well looked after and very happy in what it's doing. It wouldn't do its tricks otherwise.

"It is in immaculate condition and that reflects the way the rest of the animals are kept. I wouldn't have had them if I didn't think they were being treated right. They are nice people and I shall be going to the show. People are blowing everything out of proportion."

A national newspaper reported earlier this week that the circus was demanding £25,000 to let the bear leave the circus and go to a sanctuary.

Initially, the circus owner Jeffrey Hoffman told the Telegraph & Argus that the bear was not for sale at any price but later said it could go for £25,000.

Diane Westwood, of the Captive Animals Protection Society, said she was redoubling her efforts to get Fred to a bear sanctuary in Canada.

She claimed that Fred was likely to suffer damage to his internal organs and skeletal system through his incarceration.

She said: "Fred is a caricature of a real wild bear and is a shadow of what he should be, which is why he should go back to Canada.''

But Mr Hoffman has insisted the show is not cruel and the bear is not being mistreated.

Kirk in fight to free bear

A Bingley schoolboy has started a petition to free Britain's last performing bear.

Kirk Wilber has already collected more than 100 signatures in an effort to get the bear - Fred - released from Circus King, which is currently on farmland in Cottingley.

The 14-year-old Beckfoot Grammar School pupil from Heaton says the bear should be taken to a sanctuary.

"I haven't been to the circus because I don't like seeing the animals," he said.

"I don't believe it is right he is kept in captivity and used for other people's entertainment. I have been reading the stories in the Telegraph & Argus and I decided someone ought to speak out for him."

He plans to carry on collecting more signatures and then give the petition to Bingley councillor Phyllis Pettit, who is supporting a campaign by the Captive Animals Protection Society to send Fred to a sanctuary in Canada.

Councillor Pettit said: "I would be delighted to receive the petition and I think I would present it to the culture Minister, Chris Smith.

"I have been inundated with phone calls from people about Fred - some of them crying and others threatening to go to the circus with placards."

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