Shops which stock products tested on animals have been shamed by not being named on a new website.

Preston is one of only eight towns and cities nationally to have a Bunny Map online which highlights the places where people can purchase cruelty-free products.

The map has been devised by the animal rights group, British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), and was launched to coincide with its annual National Cruelty-Free Week, July 17-21.

A recent poll by the organisation revealed 77 per cent of British women support a ban on testing cosmetics on animals, but very few people actually know which shops in their community sell cosmetics, toiletries and household products not tested on animals.

Sean Gifford, BUAV campaigns manager, said: "Most people don't want products that have been tested on animals but don't know where to find cruelty-free alternatives, hence the need for Bunny Maps to help people vote against animal testing with their purses."

Not all animal-free shops, such as the Health Rack, Orchard Street, have been included. Bosses there declined to comment.

A spokesman for the campaign group said: "We have a number of people in the Preston area who have helped to develop the site.

"But if shops which sell animal free products have been omitted we are prepared to put their details online. We are relying on people to inform us."

Visitors to the website at www.buav.org/gocrueltyfree/map_preston.html can scroll over the bunnies dotted across a map of Preston city centre and find out which shops stock specific cruelty-free products.

The site also identifies some cruelty-free places outside of the city including places in South Ribble.

9:00am Sunday 23rd July 2006

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