EXETER Friends For Animals will take to the city's streets today to mark World Lab Animal Day.

Local campaigner Sharon Howe said opinion polls had consistently demonstrated a high level of public concern over the rising numbers of animals used in laboratories.

She said: "Time and time again, progress on this issue is held back by vested interests. For example, the European Union was due to introduce a ban on all new animal-tested cosmetics by 2013, but this now looks likely to be postponed due to industry lobbying.

"That could mean 10 more years during which thousands of rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats could be injected, gassed or force-fed and killed worldwide for cosmetics products sold in the EU. So as well as giving out information on humane alternatives, we'll also be asking people to sign our petition and join us in saying No to cruel cosmetics in Europe.