Protesters win ban on fur in Selfridges

Animal rights campaigners were claiming victory today after Selfridges announced the store would be fur-free.

The move follows demonstrations outside the Oxford Street retailer, and an email and phone campaign targeting store managers.

Although Selfridges closed its fur department in 1990, it continued to sell fur-trimmed items such as gloves and clothes. But in an email to campaign groups, the store says: "Selfridges has reviewed its policy on fur and will no longer be selling any fur products. This will come into force with immediate effect.

"The policy revision was made after customer feedback and a decline in demand for fur-related products." Mark Glover, of campaign group Respect for Animals, said: "This is fantastic news and a major victory, because Selfridges is so high-profile and so often associated with high fashion and glamour.

"There has been a lot of campaigning aimed at Selfridges because it has continued to claim it only stocks things that are a by-product of the meat industry, which is not true. It also shows the fur trade is lying when it tries to claim sales are up and fur is making a comeback."

He told the Independent: "Twenty years ago, the British Fur Trade Association had 250 to 300 members-Now there are only about 40." Fashion chains Topshop, Mango and Morgan and outdoor specialist Snow+Rock have all stopped selling fur. But Joseph and Liberty in Regent Street continue to do so and campaigners say they will be the next targets.

Most sales of fur for coats has declined but rabbit fur for trim is still popular, although the industry insists the animals have already been slaughtered for meat. However, campaigners say the animals are still alive when they are skinned.

Animal rights campaigners recently criticised Wayne Rooney's girlfriend Coleen McLoughlin, 18, after she was photographed in rabbit-fur Mukluk boots.