AN ANIMAL rescue charity has cancelled a fund-raising event at a Bear Grylls Survival Academy in Llanystumdwy following complaints over the adventurer’s alleged links about the killing of animals in his TV programmes.

Operators of Freshfield Animal Rescue in Nasareth, near Caernarfon, say they are in desperate need of donations and were planning on raising cash at the academy but cancelled the event after complaints about the way a pig and a crocodile were killed on The Island.

However, following complaints about the location of the event, founder and manager of the rescue centre in Nasareth, Lesley Tarleton, said she had no option but to change the venue.

Last year, animal welfare groups complained about TV show The Isl­and in which four women crept up to a sleeping pig before killing it.

It followed a previous episode of the show in which its male contestants accidentally killed and ate a rare species of crocodile.

Ms Tarleton said: “We had some complaints when we announced we were holding a fundraising event at Bear Grylls’ Survival Academy bec­ause of his television programme The Island last year.

“Following this we decided we could not be seen to support holding the event in a venue that had Mr Grylls’ name to it.

“I had not seen the television programme myself so I was unaware of the controversy, but if I had known I would not have considered using one of his survival academies to host the fundraiser for our charity.

“I am sorry to disappoint those who wanted to participate, but as an animal welfare charity we cannot be involved in any way with anyone who appears to condone and participates in animal exploitation and abuse.”

The charity, which is now holding its fundraising event in ZipWorld in Bethesda on 21 May, says it is desperate for donations and is urging the community to get behind the fundraiser.

Ms Tarleton added: “We are desperate for funding and volunteers, especially after Christmas, so we hope to encourage more people to donate and hopefully offer their time to help the centre.

“We have a charity shop in Porthmadog where people can make dona­tions and receive more information on how they can help.”

For further information on how you can lend your support to the animal charity visit www.freshfieldsrescue.org.uk

Bear Grylls was not available for comment.