A performing elephant which suffered appalling abuse at the hands of her groom will say goodbye to the circus and start a new life at Longleat Safari Park.

The elderly elephant, named Anne, will pack her trunk in the coming days after bosses at the Bobby Roberts Super Circus agreed she could be rehomed.

The move comes after secretly filmed video footage showing the Asian elephant being kicked, struck with a metal pitchfork and shackled by heavy chains was beamed around the world last week, sparking a massive public outcry.

Anne is now to be transported to the Wiltshire safari park "as soon as possible" where she will be assessed by vets, the RSPCA said.

But the precise details of her move are being withheld so her trip does not attract too much attention and her stress levels are kept to a minimum.

A statement released on behalf of Animal Defenders International, which shot the covert video, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Born Free Foundation, Longleat and Specialist Wildlife Services read: "The plight of Anne the elephant has captured the heart of the public.

"We are delighted to announce that Mr Roberts has agreed that Anne can be rehomed to a place where she will feel safe and secure.

"Animal protection groups and Mr Roberts have agreed that Anne will be handed over to Longleat Safari Park as an immediate place of safety, where her condition can be assessed and she will receive veterinary attention.

"Longleat has facilities to house Anne and provide her with a secure environment with the best possible veterinary care."

The announcement came after animal rights groups and charities met to discuss the best options for the 57-year-old elephant which, they said, had "endured so much".

On Sunday, Northamptonshire Police launched a probe into the footage, filmed between January 21 and February 15 in a barn in Polebrook, Northamptonshire.

The circus has claimed the alleged incidents "appear to be isolated and at times when Bobby Roberts was away for short periods".

The Romanian groom employed to care for the elephant left the circus in the early hours of Saturday morning.