Actress Anjelica Huston has called on showbusiness bosses to quit using young chimpanzees and orangutans in films.

Huston, 57, has teamed up with animal rights activists People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to voice her plea, aimed at Hollywood producers and directors.

In a video clip, she insists young apes are torn away from their mothers to perform in movies and TV shows, only to be kicked and abused by human trainers.

She adds: "Having worked with actors for many years, I find it hard to believe that anyone would have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into showbusiness.

"But the next time that you see a chimpanzee in a movie, on TV, or in an ad, chances are that's exactly what happened."