ONE of Britain's last animal circuses has arrived in Bolton, defying opposition from animal charities.

Bobby Roberts' Super Circus will be in Farnworth until Sunday with 52-year-old Asian elephant Annie and a handful of horses and ponies.

But the RSPCA said it continued to oppose animals being used for entertainment, despite circus bosses' assurances that their animals were well cared for.

Owner Bobby Roberts, aged 62, admitted that the circus has had its share of animal rights protesters over the years, but said: "In the three weeks we have been on the road we have not had any problems. People want to see the animals. We're always getting calls from people asking if we're a 'real circus with animals'. When the little pony runs on, the whole crowd roars."

Mr Roberts and his wife Moira insist that the animals are cared for as well as their own children.

Mrs Roberts said: "When the children were young and one had a toothache, Bobby wouldn't bat an eyelid. But if an elephant or a horse had a toothache he'd be up all night with it."

In the circus's 1940s heyday it boasted lions, monkeys, llamas, bears, zebras, a giant rat and a hyena.

Now it has a handful of animals and Mr Roberts blamed the decline on the effort of feeding and clearing up after them, rather than tighter welfare regulations.He said protesters had nothing to worry about, as animals received as much exercise as they needed, travelled just once a week and worked only six minutes a day. They claimed RSPCA inspectors even praised the circus for its husbandry.

But a spokesman for the RSPCA in the North-west said: "We are opposed to any kind of animal being used as entertainment. Circus animals can suffer because they cannot carry out natural behaviour, are forced to form abnormal social groups and are continually being transported."

Bolton Council has joined others banning circuses with animals from using council-owned property. The Roberts family get angry that they are targeted in ways that zoos and horse racing are not. Mrs Roberts said: "Tradition keeps us going. This is a way of life."

This is the 11th generation to tour. Son Bobby is one of the clowns and horse-mad granddaughter Summer, aged 12, shows the "big and little horses".

Showgirls, clowns, acrobats, a juggler and a trapeze act will join the animals in the ring from tonight.

They will perform twice a day until Sunday April 3.

Tickets can be bought from the booking office at the Watergate car boot site on the A6.