"YEAH, right. Dream on, luv." This was the way most people responded when I told them I was Derby's Pamela Anderson.

And perhaps they could be forgiven because at first glance, I certainly don't possess the ample chest, the buxom derriere or the blond bouffant that most people would associate with this voluptuous bombshell. Still, I couldn't hide a wry smile. Little did they know.

Back in the 1990s, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) launched its headline-grabbing campaign "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur," to raise awareness of the millions of animals trapped, drowned, beaten, and electrocuted for their fur. Since then, thousands of compassionate people have bared their bodies for its anti-fur campaign.

Pamela Anderson, a long-time vegan and well known for her animal activism, joined a string of celebrities and also stripped down for PETA's campaign.

Although fur farming was banned in Britain in 2003, the UK's fur trade turnover is about £400-500 million a year and is imported from farms where animals go insane from being confined to tiny, filthy cages before they are electrocuted, poisoned or gassed or have their necks broken.

What is more alarming is you may never know if the fur comes from China, the world's leading fur exporter, where millions of animals, including cats and dogs, are routinely skinned alive, and where wild animals are used for their fur, leg-trapped before being strangled or beaten to death.

Sadly, fur has made a resurgence in the fashion industry. While real fur remains too expensive for the average customer, fake or synthetic fur has become sought-after: Mango, H&M, Warehouse, Laura Ashley and Miss Selfridge all stock convincing imitations.

To coincide with this time of the year when fur demand peaks, Compassionate Derby brought PETA's original campaign to the streets of Derby. And so on a cold winter day, three intrepid protesters in nothing but underwear walked the city's streets sandwiched between two boards.

The reaction was unsurprisingly positive but what we didn't expect was quite so many followers and photo stops. There were even a few over-enthusiastic bystanders who wanted to join us and a couple of oddballs who randomly began tearing their own clothes off, too!

But, above all, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year, our tactics made sure we were seen and I can only hope our message got out. If we made one person put back a fur-trimmed garment or cross fur off their wish list then it was worth every freezing second.

If people are informed about the products they wear and if they are aware of the suffering that has gone in to provide them then they will say no to fur.

So, all you Pamela Andersons, tall, short, curvy or lean, blond or brunette, what are you waiting for? Make a stand against animal cruelty. Get out and strut your stuff, even if it has to be in your birthday suit, to show you won't let an animal die for your vanity.