NOTTS animal rights activists are celebrating the creation of new EU laws aimed at protecting the world's seals.

Members from Nottingham-based Respect for Animals were in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to hear MEPs vote in favour of a ban on the sale of seal products throughout the 27 countries of the EU. This legislation closes the market for products from commercial seal hunts all over the world.

Mark Glover, campaign director of Respect for Animals, said: "EU citizens will no longer have the blood of those beautiful, innocent creatures on their hands.''