A PROTEST will take place in Westbourne at the end of this month against three stores alleged to be selling real fur.

Student Ollie Farr and around ten other vegans will be handing out leaflets and using a blood-stained fake-fur coat on Friday April 26 to make their point that using real fur for fashions and accessories is cruel.

They are part of the group Dorset Animal Save, which is part of a worldwide movement which 'bears witness' to animals being transported for slaughter.

Ollie, a vegan who lives in Bournemouth, claimed to have spoken to two of the stores. "They have said they do sell fur and they have said that people who go in know it is fur and are totally aware of what they are buying," he said. "What we're trying to do is bring awareness for people who wouldn't know."

A notice on the Fur Save Page said: "This is a peaceful protest against shops selling fur in Westbourne. There’s no need for fur, feathers, wool or leather in 2019. We are going to be positive advocates for the animals and we will remember the lives lost for clothing, We Do Not Need.

"As a group we stand for animal liberation. Therefore no non vegan food or items to bring to this event. Strictly No Violence.

This is NOT a disruption of any shops."

One of the targeted stores, Les Enfants in Seamoor Road, has been the subject of a previous protest about its fur-sales policy, nine years ago.

It's Facebook page contains comments on its review section from anti-fur protesters. One comment, placed in October 2017 said: "Fur belongs to animals and not us to wear. Look it up on YouTube how animals are tortured and skinned alive so you can wear someone’s dead body around your neck. Shame on you."

Another store, Stanwells, says on its website that it sells brands which use real fur.

Olly said he was aware of other vegan protests in Brighton, which had become aggressive but: "We are hoping to avoid that. We will not be going inside the shops because we don't believe in that sort of thing.

"We are trying to avoid that kind of message and in general our message isn't so much about vegans as animal rights. We are trying to advocate for positive action."

He said he had always been an animal lover and once he learned more about food production he had to 'align my morals with my actions'.

He said he welcomed people to join the protest or to turn up and find out more about fur and veganism.