Week-long protest staged at Harrods in bid to ban fur

The Coalition to Abolish The Fur Trade campaign against the Knightsbridge store comes during one of its busiest trading periods.

It aims to "shame" the store into rethinking its fur policy.

Until Christmas Eve, protesters will hold banners calling for shoppers to boycott Harrods.

Coalition spokesman John Wilson said: "Harrods is the last department store in the whole country that is still selling fur.

"Our main aim is to make them take the compassionate decision to remove fur from their sales.

"Our previous campaigns against stores such as Selfridges have proved successful.

"Throughout the week, we are expecting between 70 and 100 people. There will be a constant presence of protesters during shopping hours.

"We want to name and shame Harrods into going fur-free. Fur production is illegal in this country and rival department stores have fur-free policies so it is also unfair they continue profiting from selling fur."

The group's Christmas Anti-Fur Week is the latest episode in a battle between the anti-fur lobby and the country's most famous department store.

In October last year, protesters began lobbying Harrods after it was announced the store was teaming up with the British Fur Trade Association to launch a new British fur label.

After several protests outside the shop, Harrods went to the High Court to seek an injunction under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Harrods applied to have a no-protest exclusion zone installed around the Knightsbridge store to force protesters on to the opposite side of the road.

The attempt was relatively successful - last year, the store was granted an interim injunction ensuring that no more than three protesters could stand by each of its 12 entrances.

There was also an exclusion zone of five yards around each entrance for all other protesters, which has been marked by a red line since the summer.

Management at Harrods were unavailable for comment. Sales of fur in general are soaring, triggering a growing backlash from campaigners.

Fur clothing sales across the country are up by 30 per cent on 2004. The market is now worth £500million in the UK.

Madonna, 48, sparked a row recently by wearing a £35,000 coat made from 40 chinchillas on a dinner date with her husband Guy Ritchie at Cecconi's restaurant in Mayfair.

Earlier this month, campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals launched an internet campaign against British design house Burberry for using real fur.

Last year, West End department stores Liberty and Selfridges joined Harvey Nichols, Fenwicks, House of Fraser and Debenhams in becoming fur-free following protracted lobbying by protesters.