An animal lover's campaign to stop live reindeer being used at a Christmas fair in Cumbria is closing in on its 60,000 target.

Retired district nurse Sandra Bullercat, who has recently moved back to Cumbria, launched the petition after seeing an advert for this year's Keswick event, which takes place on Sunday, and realising the animals were still being used.

She said: "I was at the fair in 2013 and I took some pictures of the reindeer because I try to support animal rights. I just felt it was wrong.

"I spoke to a member of the organising committee and they said I was in the minority and most people enjoy it.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw this year's fair advertised and they were still using them."

Ms Bullercat's online petition has attracted more than 13,000 signatures from within the UK, with the rest from further afield.

She said: "I'm not really surprised it's got so many signatures because people are getting more tuned in to how to treat animals.

"Reindeer don't live very long and the stress of being paraded around these activities with all the crowds and noise isn't good.

"I'm surprised that anyone in this day and age would find it acceptable."

Ms Bullercat, who lives near Penrith, plans to hand out leaflets in the town this weekend to raise awareness.

She said: "I don't think I can stop it for this year but it might make them think twice in the future.

"I just hope it will change people's opinions a bit. It's not right that we allow these things to keep happening.

"We shouldn't be using these lovely animals that don't belong here in this way.

"We used to love to see the elephants at circuses but now that isn't as socially acceptable."

Ms Bullercat launched the petition about Keswick because of her local links but would like to see a complete stop to using live reindeer in this way.

She said: "I hope the organisers will listen to what people are saying. It's unnecessary"

Roger Purkiss, chairman of the fayre's organising committee, said the main focus of the fair was to allow local charities and organisations raise money with stalls, and the reindeer were key to attracting people to the event.

He added: "There's absolutely nothing that we do to harm the reindeer in any way. There's a time for them to rest. There's no riding. People just look at them and take photographs. The like being petted. There's nothing to worry about at all.

"If I thought for a moment there was anything amiss we would stop it.

"We don't want the day spoilt because there are a lot of people who benefit from it."

Tilly Smith, co-owner of the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, said the 50 members of her 150-strong herd that are used in displays only work for one month a year, at a small number of event each. Outside those times they roam free in the Cairngorm Mountains. The events help fund their care year round.

She added: "Every year we get objections. These are people who don't want animals to be worked. We have to beg to differ.

"We have massively high standards for our reindeer. I have been doing this since 1988. We have never had a problem. We don't have reindeer that suffer.

"As long as the reindeer are will and happy and eating their food I don't have any problem with that."

The petition can be found at www.thepetitionsite.com/410/605/403