REPTILE enthusiasts will apply to the High Court today to hold a fair of snakes, lizards and other animals in Wickham.

The action comes after Wickham Community Association confirmed it would not let the May 4 show go ahead after pressure from animal rights campaigners

Chairman David Jones said he felt he had been "cajoled" by Animal Aid into cancelling the fair but that he had no other option.

He said the safety of people using the centre was paramount and any risk identified by Animal Aid of reptiles carrying the salmonella bacteria had to be taken seriously.

"We cannot prove that Animal Aid is correct or incorrect," he said. "But they are prepared to take direct action and the association feels that if Animal Aid carries out its threat to leaflet every home in Wickham, our association will be slurred."

Animal Aid has branded the treatment of the reptiles as "cruel" and the show a risk to public health. The group sent an undercover investigator to a reptile fair at the centre in October and claimed that reptiles were being illegally sold.

Spokesman Elaine Toland said: "The animal's welfare is always compromised. You see lizards and snakes in margarine tubs with inadequate space, ventilation and temperature control."

One of the fair's organisers, Chris Newman, chairman of The Federation of British Herpetologists, vigorously denied Animal Aid's claims. He said: "These are perfectly lawful events.

"They have attempted to cause public panic with unfounded and untrue claims about the dangers reptiles pose to the public. Reptiles pose significantly less danger to human health than more familiar animals and the food we eat."

He said he had no other option now but to get a court injunction forcing the community association to honour its contract.

Martin Eustace, a member of the Portsmouth Reptile and Amphibian Society, said he was disappointed that the future of the show looked in doubt.

Winchester City Council sent an environmental health officer undercover to the last fair who found no cause for concern about the treatment of the reptiles.

The officer also tried to buy reptiles but was unsuccessful. He pointed out the show did not breach the 1951 Pet Animals Act banning breeders from selling animals on at such events.

The undercover officer also found all stallholders used anti-bacteria hand-wash or handwipes after handling their stock.