SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY - MILLS CALLS FOR PET FUR TRADE BAN

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY's wife HEATHER MILLS is calling for a European ban on cat and dog fur imports.

Choking back tears and holding a coat made from the skins of 42 Alsatian puppies, the former model made the announcement today (01MAR05) during a news conference in Brussels at the European Parliament.

She said, "I became aware of this (trade) only four months ago. It was a big shock to myself and my family considering my husband and his late wife LINDA were involved in animal rights... and none of them knew about the dog and cat fur exports from China and the fact that Europe (is) importing it.

"It's barbaric that this is still going on. It's more disgusting that the fashion industry where a lot of people are actually aware of it buy this because they know it's cheaper than using the fox, mink and sable that is labelled."

Animal rights activists estimate that two million cats and dogs are killed in Asia each year for their fur, which is imported into Europe under false labels - branded as either fake fur or exotic Asian species - to make soft toys, blankets, coats and fur trims.

Five European Union states - Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece and Italy - have banned imports but the absence of a 25-nation bloc total ban means the trade cannot be halted.