It was almost a battle of the bands in Floriana this evening, with the screeching whistles by animal welfare protesters against the merry tunes coming from outside the tent of the aquatic circus.

A boisterous band was playing to welcome the spectators to the circus, which opened today, but was directly facing the protesters and the two factions seemed to be trying to outdo each other.

The group from the Circus Animal Rights Coalition, which braved the biting cold, was staging a demonstration against cruelty to animals in circuses. Representing 14 animal welfare and environmental organisations and other lobby groups, they held posters equating animal circuses to animal cruelty and slavery.

But inside the tent, the show went on and organisers said ticket sales were good.

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