THE plight of primates being kept in tiny cages prompted Cllr Debbie Andre to be a good sport and get herself locked in a cage to raise awareness.

She is spending five hours in a small cage in the foyer of Morrison's Lake supermarket today (Saturday).

Scroll down for video of Cllr Andre trying to escape!

It is in conjunction with the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, of Sandown, which campaigns against monkeys and lemurs being kept as pets in often horrendous conditions.

They are building a new world class primate rescue facility to give the re-homed primates a safe and spacious home.

The sanctuary is backing the Kept Animals Bill which will stop people being allowed to keep monkeys and lemurs as pets without regulation — which has seen primates kept in birdcages, in front rooms and garden sheds.

Isle of Wight County Press: Matthew Riches, marketing manager of Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, with Cllr Debbie AndreMatthew Riches, marketing manager of Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, with Cllr Debbie Andre

While many people will find amusement in Cllr Andre’s incarceration and even question whether her enforced five hours of silence (she is not allowed to speak) is even plausible, there is a serious message behind the activity.

The Wildheart Trust thanked Cllr Andre for both her time and passionate enthusiasm for the cause as well as Morrison’s for hosting such outlandish escapades.