TESTS on animals should be justified in `each and every case', says the RSPCA.

The organisation, which also calls for more humane alternatives to animal testing, said: "Animal research can cause animals significant suffering."

The charity says people bring some medical conditions upon themselves.

"Medical research itself may be for conditions that humans bring upon themselves from smoking, drinking and drug use."

However, the organisation said it recognised some experiments contributed to medical developments.

"As a result, there are many genuine ethical dilemmas. Banning all animal experiments in such circumstances is just not a realistic option."

The charity suggests `the need and justification for animal use should be much more critically examined in each and every case'.

The RSPCA's stance came as a BBC programme last night revealed that most people back testing for medical reasons, but 57 per cent opposed using taxpayers' money to build more animal testing laboratories.