This comes as new figures reveal 86 per cent of people in the south west consider keeping a goldfish in a bag as animal cruelty.

The charity has relaunched its #NoFunAtTheFair campaign, highlighting the practice of giving away animals, particularly goldfish, as prizes.

Although all of Wales’ 22 councils have banned this activity on their land, it remains legal on privately owned land in both Wales and England.

The RSPCA is asking its supporters in England to email their local authorities to put an end to this practice.

Currently, more than 160 councils across England have prohibited it, but the charity is keen for more to follow suit.

Christa Harwood, RSPCA campaigns officer, said: “Our list of councils across England is ever-growing but we’re now calling on our supporters across the south west to help us call on their local council to take this important action and ban this practice on their land.

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The RSPCA is ultimately calling on both the UK government and Welsh government to introduce outright bans on the giving of pets as prizes via national legislation. (Image: Shutterstock) “There is clearly strong public support for councils to take action – but we still need your help to get the message out there. The more people who sign our action, the more councillors will get the message that a ban is needed – and wanted.”

The RSPCA sees pet ownership as a significant responsibility and believes goldfish, while great companions, should not be won through a spur-of-the-moment game.

Goldfish are easily stressed and often suffer from shock, oxygen starvation, or die from temperature changes when won as prizes.

Many don’t even make it home with their new owners.

The charity is also concerned about the societal perception of animals when given away as prizes.

Evie Button, RSPCA animal welfare expert, said: “We all want to see a world where pets are acquired responsibly, well looked after and respected.

“Handing someone a sentient animal in a plastic bag full of water as a prize can clearly encourage individuals to not treat them as a sentient being, but rather as a worthless object that can be thrown away.”