Scuffles as Spanish town drops bull-spearing from festival

Tordesillas, Spain

LOCALS scuffled with animal rights activists on Tuesday at a centuries-old Spanish festival held for the first time since the event was banned from spearing its half-tonne bull to death. "Bastard politicians, respect traditions", read a giant placard set up at the entrance to the central town of Tordesillas, about 200 kilometres north-west of Madrid.

Every September, men on horseback and on foot have chased a bull on a plain near the town and speared it to death in front of thousands of onlookers as part of the annual Toro de la Vega (Bull of the Plain) festival, which has been held for nearly seven centuries.