ANIMAL rights supporter and Derby North MP Chris Williamson has welcomed moves to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

MPs backed a motion to introduce a ban from July next year.

Ministers said they would listen but that a ban was not "an immediate possibility" because there were legal issues to overcome.

Mr Williamson helped to lead the campaign to prevent circuses from using council land in Derby 20 years ago.

He said: "I have never given up the fight to protect the welfare of animals in this country.

"I am delighted to see support from across the House [of Commons] for this very important issue."

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, who tabled the motion, claims the Prime Minister's office wanted him to amend or scrap it – but he said 200 MPs were in favour of it.