'Gorilla' coat seized by police at Big Brother house

The latest eviction from the Celebrity Big Brother house was not a comedy rapper, a rebel MP or a Polish countess, but - for once - a genuine surprise.

On Wednesday night, after a string of complaints from viewers, police descended on the house in Elstree to remove Pete Burns's coat, which he proudly claims is made of gorilla fur.

The androgynous lead singer of the 80s band Dead or Alive shocked his fellow housemates and Channel 4 viewers when he told them that his coat - a present his boyfriend picked up in a second-hand shop - was made from the fur of the endangered animals.

A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire police said last night: "Following a number of complaints from members of the public regarding a coat taken into the Big Brother house by Pete Burns, the coat in question has been handed across to police officers from Hertfordshire constabulary.

"The coat will now be tested to determine its origin."

The spokesman added: "Hertfordshire constabulary will take positive action to investigate any allegation of criminal activity."

A Big Brother spokesman said the coat had been handed over to police for investigation and Burns was aware of what was going on.

Trading in endangered species carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine.

The action was welcomed last night by the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

"We have been encouraging our supporters to vote Pete Burns out of the house at every opportunity," a spokeswoman said. "Whether it's a gorilla coat, a mink coat or a fox coat, all animals suffer equally at the hands of the fur trade.

"When he does leave the house we would like to meet with him and show him footage of how these coats are made. Hopefully, we can educate him and persuade him to donate the coat to us."

But the move angered the father of Stuart Lubbock, the man found dead in the swimming pool of another contestant, Michael Barrymore, five years ago.

Terry Lubbock said he was incensed that police had removed the coat when he had not been able to have serve legal papers on Barrymore earlier this week.

Mr Lubbock has launched a a private prosecution to find out how his son died at the entertainer's home in 2001.

Mr Lubbock said yesterday: "The police have gone in like a bull in a china shop over a coat but would not let us serve legal papers about the death of my son. It's outrageous."

He added: "How can a monkey skin coat compare to my son's life? If the police are giving top priority to a monkey skin coat over the death of my son, it's disgusting."

Despite the earlier difficulty in serving the papers, it emerged yesterday that a solicitor at Elstree studios had agreed to accept the documents advising Barrymore of the potential court case.

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