A shopping centre which came under fire for wanting to use real penguins for a fun day has said it has no plans to use live animals for any of its future events.

The Ashley Centre, in Epsom, announced last Wednesday that visitors would have the chance to meet penguins as part of an "educational encounter" at the mall on June 29, to highlight the dangers of climate change to the animals at a penguin-themed fun day.

A video promoting the event was published on YouTube, but the centre's PR team removed it from public view after the story was broken by the Epsom Guardian.

International wildlife charity, The Born Free Foundation, urged it to reconsider, saying that "such events send an inappropriate message to the public that penguins are little more than living toys."

In a u-turn on Friday evening, a spokeswoman said the fun day would be going ahead without the penguins, but with a "very special guest" instead - which The Epsom Guardian can now exclusively reveal will be the cartoon penguin Pingu.

The spokeswoman said today that the mall had taken the decision because "a handful of customers had expressed some concern, primarily with the fact that the penguins may become distressed by crowds and noise".

She said the penguins it was planning to use were captive-bred Humboldt Penguins who are used to regular human contact and are not distressed by flash photography or busy crowds.

She added: "They have worked in the film and entertainment business for many years under the experienced guidance of a company that has worked for the event and film industry for over 40 years.

"In addition, we had planned for extra security to make sure shoppers were prevented from touching them.

"The Ashley Centre has always listened to its customers and responded to their needs.

"There are no plans for live animals to be used in any events in the future at The Ashley Centre."

A video promoting the day, showing the penguins in the shopping centre after hours to depict how they had set up home in the centre due to the "altered state of their natural habitat", was also posted on YouTube and went "viral", according to the spokeswoman, but it has now been removed from the website.

The video was made using live penguins.

She said: "The penguins were under the supervision and experienced guidance of an organisation that has over 40 years experience of working with animals in the film industry.

"The Humboldt Penguins that were used live at Heythrop Zoological Gardens in a specially constructed enclosure that includes their own swimming pool, pebbled beach and house.

"They live in an active breeding group and enjoy an active social existence.

"The penguins are under the veterinary care of International Zoo Veterinary Group.

"Humboldt Penguins are a CITES 1 endangered species, and so the penguins used carry an article 10 licence that permits them to be used for commercial purposes."

Posting an update statement on its website, The Born Free Foundation said: "Common sense prevails.

"We are delighted that the Ashley Centre has made the right decision.  The use of wild animals in this way - just like the use of animals in circuses - should be a thing of the past."

Many customers praised The Ashley Centre's re-think on its Facebook page.

Hayley Dodd said: "Excellent decision.  Animals are not for entertainment."

Anna Richardsom agreed: "You've made the right decision. Thanks for listening. A shopping centre isn't the right place for penguins. Neither is a zoo but that's another matter."

Jan Harvell added: "Well done - the penguins would have suffered and it was not a good example to set to children."