ELEPHANTS will perform at a Chelmsford circus for the first time in a decade.

The controversial Great British Circus rolled into town this week, causing outrage among animal rights sympathisers.

Shocking undercover video footage of the outfit's three elephants being abused was released last month and animal rights groups have called for the public to boycott it.

But circus directors insist the elephants are treated well, and the culprit was sacked long before the video, which shows the elephants being punched and hit with weapons, was made public.

At a press briefing on Tuesday the Chronicle was invited to see the circus's four-legged stars, also including tigers, camels, lions and horses, ahead of their 18 performances over a 13-day stint in the 600-seater circus tent at Essex Regiment Way.

Chris Barltrop, who spoke on behalf of circus director Martin Lacey who does not talk to the media, said tickets were selling fast.

"There is a lot of interest, in spite of recent alarm.

"This circus has been coming here for a number of years and people who like to see it have confidence in our standards of animal welfare so will continue to support us.

"The circus is inspected wherever it goes, by the local authority and by DEFRA (Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs) vets."

He said the "dreadful" footage of a groom hitting the elephants, released on YouTube was exceptional for a circus which prides itself on high standards.

The trio, Indian elephants Delhi, 39, and Wanamana, 40, and a 35-year-old African elephant called Sonia, joined the circus in February.

During the show they sit on pedestals, join trunks, stand up on their back legs and an acrobat handstands on their tusks.

Owner and trainer Lars Holcsher said they enjoyed the daily training and shows.

"We only do things with the animals that they do in the wild, they don't stand up on one leg or roll over, everything they do is natural," he added.

Overlooking the Chelmsford skyline, during the day the animals have the run of a 3,000 square metre patch of field ringed by an electric fence. At night they are chained up in their tent.

Craig Redmond, campaigns director for the Captive Animals' Protection Society has called on the public to boycott the event.

He said: "The Great British Circus shows just why we need to end this practice.

"We urge the public to avoid this circus and wait for one of the all-human shows to visit town."