BEARSKIN hats worn by the Welsh Guards should be banned because they "involve unnecessary cruelty" to animals, it was claimed last night. Former Labour minister Chris Mullin is among a group of Labour MPs urging the government to force the regiment to switch to fake fur. Bearskins are worn with ceremonial tunics by the Grenadier, Welsh, Irish, Scots and Coldstream Guards regiments. Animal rights activists claim each helmet requires the entire hide of a black bear. The bears are hunted in Canada and their skins shipped to the UK. Mr Mullin has tabled a parliamentary motion demanding an end of their use and claims they "have no military significance." The Early Day Motion "invites Her Majesty's government to end their use and substitute hats made from fake fur." It has been signed by six other MPs, including Welsh Labour MP Martin Caton (Lab; Gower). The bearskin is thought to have been adopted from Napoleon's Imperial Guard after Waterloo in 1815. It features in ceremonies such as the Trooping of the Colour. The Ministry of Defence said it was conducting a trial of synthetic fur but early results had proved "inconclusive". A spokesman said the MoD did "appreciate how strongly many people feel about the use of fur" and since 2001 had kept the number of new caps to a minimum. He added: "The structure of bear fur is not easy to replicate. It has an exceptional ability to cope with different weather conditions." The Army points out that no bears are killed specifically for the caps and are a by-product of hunting. | 
