Dolphin and elephant tourism is under threat, it has emerged, as Britain's second largest travel company is dropping tours to animal attractions over welfare fears.

A damning independent report commissioned by Thomas Cook found dolphins with badly damaged skin and elephants which were being kept in cruel conditions.

The Sunday Times reported that some elephants were heavily chained and showing distress signs, with others were forced to spin hoops, stand on small platforms and take part in a "tug-of- war". The audit of 25 attractions by assessment company Global Spirit found that 16 did not meet the minimum standards for welfare set out by Abta, the UK travel industry trade body.

Thomas Cook has now taken the decision to stop selling tickets to these attractions, of which 11 involved dolphins and five involved elephants.