A READING woman went nearly nude in protest of bears being slaughtered for fur used to make the caps worn by the Queen’s Guards.

Animal rights group Peta claims it 'takes the skin of at least one bear to make a single cap' and has called upon the government to use faux fur instead.

On Saturday, May 28, protesters lied on 'blood' soaked Union Jack flags holding signs in London's Marble Arch.

The PETA activists are protesting against the slaughter of Canadian black bears, where they claim their fur is being used to make the caps worn by the Queen's Guard.

Reading woman Elaine Evans sat in the middle of the action holding a sign reading “Stop the Bear Slaughter: MoD, Go Fur-Free!”

PETA Senior Campaigns Manager Kate Werner. said: “The Ministry of Defence is using taxpayer funds to pay for caps made from the skin of slaughtered bears.

"Every day that bears are blasted with bullets or arrows to be skinned for our soldiers brings dishonour to our country. Now that an animal-friendly replacement exists, the MoD must use it.”

PETA are campaigning for the government to replace the real bearskins used for the Queen’s Guard’s caps with faux fur

The government responded in February 2022 and said: "Currently we have no plans to end the use of bearskins. Bear pelts that are used are the by-products of a licensed cull by the Canadian authorities to manage the wild bear population.

"Bears are never hunted to order for use by the MOD. Our suppliers source pelts made available by the Canadian authorities following a licenced cull as part of a programme to manage the wild bear population; Provincial, territorial, federal and international laws provide strict trade regulations to protect against unlawful trade in black bears both within Canada and internationally."