Islington-born pop star Leona Lewis is spearheading a campaign to force the government to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

A debate is taking place in the House of Commons today (June 22) after 10,000 people backed the ban in a public consultation last year.

Ms Lewis, who attended Ambler Primary School, in Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, said: “I know that many MPs agree with the vast majority of the public and would like to see an end to this practice. Even Defra’s public consultation, carried out last year, resulted in an enormous 94.5% public support for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.”

Other famous faces to lend the weight to the campaign include Ricky Gervais and Alexei Sayle, Brian Blessed Brian May.