Britain's last lion tamer is accused of animal cruelty as 'traumatised' big cats are filmed 'pacing in tiny dark cages on the back of a truck parked by the M6' 

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Britain's last lion tamer has been accused of cruelty after undercover footage revealed his two lions and three tigers are being kept in cramped cages next to the M6.

For 300 years the Chipperfield dynasty have used big cats as part of their show, but Animal Defenders International (ADI) say their animals are 'traumatised' and ill-treated.

The circus company has been accused of neglecting its pair of lions, Tsavo and Assegai, and trio of tigers, Nadi, Syas and Altai, and abandoning them to life in a trailer close to the M6 toll in Staffordshire.

ADI, who took the footage, say the animals were caged in cramped conditions, kept in the dark for more than 14 hours and on occasion not let out to exercise at all.

Shocking: This footag shows how Chippefield tigers, Nadi, Syas and Altai, were abandoned to life in a trailer close to the M6 toll in Staffordshire

Caged: Lions Tsavo and Assegai, were, on one occasion not even let out to exercise

Environment: At the site the constant noisy rumble of the M6 and the nearby A5 can also be heard in the film

Message: Thomas Chipperfield previously posted this image of him with his lion Tsavo, who was filmed by activists, and said any ban on animals in circuses would be 'unjustified'

The constant noisy rumble of the M6 and the nearby A5 can also be heard.

The lions and tigers are owned by Thomas Chipperfield, said to be Britain's last tamer, and a relation of its founder James, who first performed with animals on the frozen Thames in 1684. 

Travelling abroad with an Italian circus for four months this winter, Mr Chipperfield reportedly planned to return to the UK in the New Year for a new show - but in the meantime his five animals faced a miserable existance, confined mostly to their cages on the back of a truck. 

Their exercise yard appeared to be a small muddy and waterlogged patch of grass.

Government rules say animals should get a minimum of six hours outside 

At one point in the undercover-footage, the big cats were kept in darkness for more than 12 hours overnight, and subjected to constant noise from two main roads, the M6 and A5 in the Black Country.

Kept behind heavy metal shutters, they were fed from a nearby horse abbatoir.

Daily access to an outdoor exercise area was restricted and on one day the pair of lions were not let out to stretch their legs once.

Tragically, even when the three tigers did have the opportunity to leave their cages, they were reluctant to do so, which was described as a sign of 'institutionalised' behaviour.

On one night the shutters came down at 8pm and were not opened until 10:10am the following morning, 14 hours later. 

A spokesman for ADI said: 'Inside the truck, the lions and tigers are seen to pace back and forth continuously to relieve the stress and boredom - this is not just a transporter, it is their home.

'Such pacing is an abnormal, repetitive 'stereotypic' behaviour not seen in the wild, but commonly observed in circuses, and indicates compromised welfare.'

Food:  The ADI claim this is the inside of the nearby abattoir, which provides meat for the 

Home: The footage also shows a pair of dogs in their enclosure, and a number of horses

Guidelines from the Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stipulate that animals should be able to exercise for at least six hours in every day.

Mr Chipperfield withdrew his licence application under the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 after a DEFRA inspection report found the indoor accommodation was not of sufficient size but had been based on the water-logged land for nearly a year, after his Welsh tour ended.

A recent survey said 94.5 per cent of the public supported a ban - but it is still legal, although some 200 local authorities will not allow such performances on public land.

A spokesman for ADI said: 'Despite assurances from the circus industry that animals are well cared for, the physical and psychological health of animals in circuses is inevitably compromised.

'Animals in circuses can also be subjected to brutal training methods and violence - wherever ADI has conducted an undercover investigation in the UK and around the world it has documented acts of abuse.

'Animal circuses do nothing to teach people about the animals' real needs and the way they live, and have no role to play in education or conservation..'

ADI vice president Tim Phillips said: 'Travelling shows are no fun for animals. Confinement and deprivation are endemic to this industry whether the act is touring or not.

'The Government's failure to fulfil its promise to ban wild animal acts has let down both the public and the animals it vowed to protect. The latest ADI evidence shows regulations have failed and that these animals are desperately lacking legal protection.'

The Chipperfield family has run circuses in various forms since the 1600s, and in the 20th Century branched out to establish the first drive-through safari parks in England, as well as training animals for film and television appearances.

Two dogs were living in the training ring at the time the footage was produced.

Veterinary lobby groups unanimously agreed that keeping animals in captivity for travelling shows did not allow their basic needs to be met. 

Anthony Beckwith, who co-owns the circus with Mr Chipperfield, told the Times that the animals were now in cages that met the Government's minimum standards after a second trailer was installed.

He also said the reason the cats were not let out on one occasion was because their outside enclosure was flooded.