SHOPPERS and tourists were stopped by members of an animal rights group in Durham market place yesterday.

Animal Aid is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and raising awareness of its work.

Children were offered stickers and adults were given flyers urging them to make ethical choices.

Animal Aid's spokesman Bernadette Bullen, from Eston, Middlesbrough, said: "The idea is to encourage people to have a more animal friendly lifestyle.

"We want people to go veggie if they can and try to eat less dairy and cream.

"We are not a violent or aggressive animal rights organisation - we just want to show people how they can be kinder to animals."

The campaign's theme is Ten Ways to Change Your World.

Visitors can take part in quizzes to test their knowledge of animals and there will be games for children.

A promotional film stars comedian Alexei Sayle, Anne Widdecombe MP, and poet Benjamin Zephaniah.

It suggests buying rescue pets instead of those from a breeder, buying cruelty-free products and using dairy-free goods.

The campaign continues in Newcastle today.

For information, visit www.animalaid.gov.uk