A MERSEYSIDE animal rights activist is leading a campaign to stop the broadcasting of bullfights on the Sky Digital family package. Tony Moore, of Southport-based Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe (FAACE), says he was disgusted to discover the programmes, on Spanish channel TVEi, aired as early as 4pm when young children could be watching. After lobbying Westminster, his fight has led to Labour MP Tony Banks introducing a motion to remove the programmes from the schedules. Mr Moore said: "We were only alerted to this by people ringing us in disgust at what was being broadcast on their TV screens. "I saw one programme where they put the sword in and there was blood everywhere. They showed it again in action replays from different angles about four times. "Another one showed the bullfighters breaking the bulls' front legs. They were hobbling around on three legs with one dangling down. I couldn't bear to watch it. "If a child is watching, then they are either going to feel very ill and have bad dreams, or become completely unaffected by cruelty. If this was porn being shown at that time of day, then they would pull it from the schedules straight away." Tony Banks introduced an early day motion in Parliament last week to end such transmissions. So far, the motion has collected 47 signatures. If it is successfully pushed through, it will be passed on to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for review. A Sky spokesman said the programmes were the responsibility of TVEi, which is independent of the Rupert Murdoch-owned company. He said: "Programme content on third party channels is a matter for the individual channel concerned or for the relevant broadcaster, which in this case is TVEi. "It is a matter for Ofcom if there is any action to be taken." However, broadcasting watchdog Ofcom said the programmes did not fall within its remit, as its code of conduct only applies to those who hold a UK broadcast licence. A spokeswoman said: "Broadcasters who are legitimately licensed under other European Union countries are permitted free access to other European states, under the EU's Television Without Frontiers directive, provided they comply with the broadcasting rules of that country. "Ofcom can only take action about channels which are licensed outside the UK in extreme circumstances, for example, if those channels are broadcasting incitement to racial hatred or incitement to violence." Mr Moore has argued that the broadcasts were in breach of the Television Without Frontiers directive. He has taken the case to the European Commission. grahamdavies@dailypost.co.uk | 
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