Pet Shop Boys have politely turned down a request to change their name to Rescue Shelter Boys to promote an animal rights group campaign.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe received a letter from PETA bosses last month asking them to make the switch to help their campaign to stop people buying cats and dogs from pet shops.

The duo's representatives made a post on their official website stating "(PETA) has written to Pet Shop Boys with a request they are unable to agree to but nonetheless think raises an issue worth thinking about."

In response, PETA Special Projects Manager, Yvonne Taylor admitted she was pleased the band took the issue seriously.

She said: "Neil Tennant, who posted this, showed that the Pet Shop Boys are just as smart as their lyrics and appreciate PETA's creative ways of bringing issues to the public."

(by Scott Colothan)