Goldfish prizes have been banned from a village fete following a passionate outburst by an animal welfare activist. 

Tallulah Durand, 27, from Leatherhead, said she was horrified to see a fairground stand giving away goldfish as prizes at Ashtead Village Day on Saturday.

Ms Durand, who said she saw a child leave the fair on Saturday with four goldfish and a tiny bowl, said: "The people who won them didn’t plan on keeping fish. They’ll go home and put the fish straight into tap water. 

"Most of those fish sold at the fair will not survive very long. I will always speak out against any animal cruelty."

Councillor Tim Ashton said he told her on the day that the inclusion of goldfish prizes would be reviewed and on Monday confirmed that they would no longer be allowed.

He said: "I have already talked to the fairground operator. We won’t have the stand again next year, although it was perfectly legal."

Another organiser Len Wood, of Ashtead Rotary Club, said he did research online and contacted Trading Standards in advance to check guidance and ensure no laws were broken.

He said winners had received tickets so they could pick up their goldfish at the end of the day instead of carrying them around.

He said: "We took a lot of trouble to make sure they took care of the goldfish and we provided a paddling pool full of water.

"We are concerned about these issues and do not do these things with a cavalier attitude."

Mr Wood said the local garden centre reported an influx of people wanting to buy aquariums following Ashtead Village Day last year.

He said: "Obviously the goldfish survived otherwise they would not be buying aquariums."

A ban on giving away goldfish as prizes was dropped from what became the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, but children can only take them away if accompanied by someone aged over 16.

Many councils enforce bans on their land and the RSPCA says many fairground fish die before their new owners get them home or soon afterwards.

Schoolgirls, from Blackburn, have reportedly collected more than 9,000 signatures on their Saving Goldfish Forever petition, which is backed by MPs including Jack Straw.