People urged to report goldfish given as prizes

Peterborough City Council urged people to report goldfish being given as prizes at funfairs

Fairgoers are being urged by a council to report goldfish being given away as prizes.

Peterborough City Council said it supported an RSPCA campaign which bans the practice of giving live animals as prizes on council-owned land.

Zameer Ali, Labour councillor and cabinet member for communities, poverty and public health, said: "While rare, we have still received reports of events on our land where fish are given as prizes in recent years, and this is something that we as a council need to stop."

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 states that it is an offence to give an animal as a prize to anyone under the age of 16, except from family.

The RSPCA said it wanted to see legislation introduced similar to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which states that it is an offence to give an animal as a prize regardless of age, except within the family context.

Ali added: "We are fully behind the RSPCA campaign to ban this outdated and cruel practice and would urge anyone who sees this to report it immediately."

Christa Harwood, campaigns officer for the RSPCA, said: "We are delighted that Peterborough City Council has taken steps to ensure the giving of pets as prizes will no longer take place on their land.

"Many goldfish are at risk with their welfare hinging on the spur-of-the-moment result of a carnival game."