Victory for animal lovers: Running bulls BANNED from festival in Spanish town

Almost 55 per cent of the population in Aldaia, of the Valencian area in Spain,

voted against the use of the animals - which are made to chase after revellers, 
often resulting in them being horrifically gored.

The triumph means bulls will no longer take part in the town's festival, 
which take place during the last week of July and first week of August.

As well as being used to charge around after tourists, the bulls horns would also 
be set alight during some of the annual festivals.

The historic victory came after socialists swept into power following elections earlier this year.

The historic victory came after socialists swept into power

Just over 3,000 of the 23,000 residents with a right to vote - 14 per cent 
of the population - took part in the ballot.

Socialist mayor Guillermo Lujan said after being told of the result: 
"We are satisfied with the level of participation which has been higher than 
we'd expected.

"We wanted the citizens to decide. We respect and accept the result."

More than 8,000 towns in the Valencian Community, which covers the 
eastern Spanish provinces of Alicante, Valencia and Castellon, still use bulls in 
their summer festivals.

But now towns in the area are expected to hold their own referendums, 
which could see running bulls slowly being wiped off festival maps.

The historic vote came following a record year for fatalities linked to the festivities, 
with 14 people having died after being gored by bulls.

Martin Caballero, 43, was gored three times in June by a bull in Coria, in the 
western province of Caceres near the border with Portugal.

Another victim was an 80-year-old man, who died the same day in hospital 
after being gored twice by a bull with fireworks attached to its horns in Tarragona.

Then in July, a 44-year-old French tourist died after being gored during an annual 
festival in Pedreguer.

Comedian and animal activist Ricky Gervais took to social media in August to call for 
a ban on "cruel sports" after a man was killed by a baby bull during an annual festival 
in Lerin, Navarra, northern Spain.

Sharing a picture of the incident on Twitter, he said: "Poor terrified bull. 
Ban cruel sports.

"Neither I nor any bull wants you to fight it. But if you insist I hope it defends itself."

The most famous event involving running bulls are held in San Fermines 
in Pamplona, which involves the animals running along a half-mile course through 
the city centre.

A total of fifteen people have been kllled in the northern Spanish city since 1911.

Anti-bull groups said today they would fight the Aldaia poll result.

express.co.uk