Camels banished from the sands

CAMELS in a Great Yarmouth circus have been banned from taking their daily walk on the beach.

Their owner, Peter Jay (of the 1960s band Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers) said in the past camels had been allowed to race each other along the sand.

'It's crazy, if any animal belongs on the sand it's the camels,' Peter Jay said.' A few years ago a licence was granted to allow camels to race on the beach - all I'm asking for is the same again.'

He has even offered to provide staff to collect any droppings the two adult and one baby camels leave behind.

But the borough council remain intransigent. The principal engineer David Greasley said that the action had been taken because under the provisions of the Wild Animals Act camels were listed as dangerous animals and as such they must be kept in a fenced, licensed compound.

Mr Greasley added that he had no idea why the camels had ever been allowed to race along the beach.

The camels, banned from the sand are having to be exercised in the circus ring or at the back of the circus.

'We have some wonderful beaches in Yarmouth it seems such a shame not to let them out to stretch their legs,' Mr Jay said.

To comfort the nervous he added:' They are all insured and they would be off the beach before 9.30am.'