Animals that were due to appear in a circus taking place in Blackpool have been grounded under restrictions on the movement of livestock during the latest foot and mouth outbreak.

Ten pigmy goats and two llamas were due to perform in shows at Circus Mondao which opened on Tuesday at a site in Marton, near the M55 sliproad.

But the animals were unable to be transported from the circus's previous performance site, in Warton, due to the precautionary ban on livestock movement.

The animals are not believed to be infected with the disease which so far has been restricted to Surrey.

"Our other animals are missing them and carried on when they realised they weren't coming with us," said ringmistress Petra Jackson, 31.

It comes as national animal rights group, the Captive Animals' Protection Society (CAPS), urged people to boycott the circus which runs at the site until August 27.

Campaigners say they have concerns over the way the animals are transported from site-to-site, kept in temporary accommodation and forced to perform in the circus ring.

But ringmistress, Petra said all the animals are kept in humane conditions and only trained to perform.

"Anyone who has ever kept animals will know that you can't force an animal to do anything it doesn't want to do," said Petra, who has worked in animal circuses for 15 years.

"Samantha the mule, who was rescued from an Italian slaughterhouse 25 years ago, won't perform on some days because she doesn't want to, the next day she'll be fine.

"All our animals are trained with rewards the same way you'd train a dog to sit, for instance.

"And the only performing they do are enhanced natural movements.

"The stables they are kept in are the same accommodation used for them back home and all the animals have a set routine and cared for well."

Animals used in the circus, include five horses, seven ponies, two mules, a donkey and a rabbit.

Craig Redmond, CAPS campaigns manager, said: "We would encourage people to avoid those circuses that still use animals. In the 21st century there can be no excuse for continuing to allow the treatment of animals in this way."

Jim Potts from Lancashire Trading Standards, which includes Animal Health and Welfare, said officers had a statutory duty to visit each site of a touring circus that uses animals to ensure they were being kept in humane conditions and not being cruelly treated.

He said: "Our officers are entirely satisfied that the animals at this circus are housed in humane conditions. They seem to be cared for to a high standard and have enough food and water and places to graze. The animals are semi-domesticated and all documentation is in order."

Under the Animal Welfare Act, which came into force in April 2007, the use of some animals in circuses could be banned from next year.