THE Mayor of Gedling has swapped her old robe for a new one to send out a message against the fur trade.

While the old robe featured musquash fur – from a muskrat – the replacement has velvet trimming.

Muskrats are a semi-aquatic rodents found in North America, and parts of Europe, Asia, and South America.

They are covered with short, thick, brown fur.

Councillor Patricia Andrews, Mayor of Gedling, said it was wrong to kill them merely for decorative purposes.

"I'm often asked by school children who visit the council offices whether the fur is real," she said.

"And I strongly feel the need to say to them that it is wrong to kill these little animals just so we can decorate our clothes with their skin."

The furry robe was used for the first time by a Gedling mayor in 1974 and the council says it knows of no cases since then when a mayor has not worn the robe.

"I hope this will send out the right message," Mrs Andrews added.

"We also have vegans and vegetarians on Gedling Borough Council and I decided that the fur would just have to go.

"We did investigate trying to remove it from the existing robes and substitute it with velvet but this proved impossible owing to their age and condition.

"We went to a supplier who was recommended by another authority as being the best value in price and quality.

"I hope future mayors will enjoy wearing the robe for many years to come."

The new robe, which cost the council £650, arrived last month and the mayor was able to wear it at the last full council meeting before Christmas on December 21.

It has been paid for by the mayor's civic money.

The old robe is being kept in storage in case future mayors decide they want to wear it.

Gedling MP Vernon Coaker, who went to observe the meeting, welcomed the move.

He said: "The symbolism of this action is incredibly important.

"It is a significant message the mayor and the council are sending out that fur is unacceptable."

Other mayors in Notts who wear fur on their robes are the Mayor of Newark, Councillor Bryan Richardson, and the Mayor of Retford, Councillor Adele Mumby.

Ms Mumby said there were no plans to change the traditional garment.

She added: "Whilst I am against the trade of fur, the musquash has been dead for 100 years so there'd be no point."

Mayor of Mansfield, Councillor Tony Egginton, said: "I'm no animal rights campaigner, but I think fur is rather extravagant."