STAFF at Droitwich Library have acted swiftly to cancel a visit from a mobile zoo, after they discovered that the owner of the company ‘Tropical Inc’ had previously pleaded guilty to 34 offences under the animal welfare act.

The library booked the visit 10 months ago following a well-received educational and fun visit they’d had from the same company in 2010.

However Tropical Inc’s owner, Steve Rowlands, went on to be convicted at Worcester Magistrates Court in November of 2013, of 34 counts of not providing a variety of animals with a suitable habitat, following a police raid on his premises in Dunhampton, near Droitwich, when 74 animals were discovered left in four cramped rooms, covered with excrement and without electricity, light and food.

Several Droitwich residents raised concerns on social media on Tuesday, June 30, and within an hour the library staff had acted to cancel the event.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council, said: "As soon as concerns with Tropical Inc. were brought to our attention the event planned for July 11 to help promote the Summer Reading Challenge was cancelled. These concerns are currently being investigated."

Tropical Inc. could not be contacted for comment.