Aretha Franklin has been offered a financial lifeline by animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), on the condition that she never wears real fur again.

It was revealed earlier this month that the soul singer has slumped into financial difficulties and she owes a $19,000 tax bill accumulated paying off her Michigan home.

Now, on the condition that she hands over all of her infamous fur coats and promises not to wear such items again, PETA are offering to bail her out completely.

In a personal letter to Ms Franklin, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk writes: "We would like to help you out by paying the approximately $19,000 in back taxes that you owe - if you'll agree to save animals from hideous suffering and death by promising never to wear fur again and donating your old furs to PETA.

"We are absolutely sincere in making this offer - we believe that you know in your heart that your fans will love you even more if you make a fur-free resolution.

"As you no doubt now realise, animals who are trapped in the wild can suffer for days before dying from exposure, frostbite, shock, or infection or by being strangled, stomped, or bludgeoned to death by trappers.

“Our offer is a win-win situation: You get to keep your home, and animals get to keep their lives. We are rooting for you to please give animals the R-E-S-P-E-C-T that they deserve by giving up fur."

Sounds like a fair deal to us.

(by Scott Colothan)