The pair – a man and woman – were captured on video flinging the pets along the shiny floor of the YMCA in Halifax.

Click the 'play' button to see the video.

The animals knocked down mini-skittles made from pop bottles.

Cyril Love, YMCA general secretary, confirmed the ferret-throwing game did happen. "It did take place at the Halifax YMCA," he said.

"I saw it myself and asked for it to stop. I thought it was cruel and inappropriate."

But he added: "The ferrets are in good health." The matter has now been reported to the RSPCA.

The game was played by YMCA rollerblading supervisor Andy Thomas and an unnamed female general supervisor who has since left. The ferrets were her pets and she told the Courier: "They enjoy it because they play and bounce around. It's not dangerous.

"They are well looked after and get regular check- ups and walks."

She said the skittles were empty pop bottles.

Two videos of the game were posted on the YouTube website.

One lasted 30 seconds, the other just 12. Both have since been removed.

Andy Thomas, of Pellon, Halifax, who appears in the film, defended the game, saying: "It's not cruel. Ferrets love playing games. It's not harmful."

He added: "I didn't know the film was being taken or that it was on YouTube. But it is intended to make people laugh."

He said the male ferrets, aged between four and six months, were adopted from a ferret rescue centre in Halifax.

The videos were reported to the Courier by Mr Thomas's brother, Lee Thomas, 38, who lives in Somerset. He said: "He is being cruel to animals.

"If I didn't say anything about it I would be just as bad.

"The worst thing is that he finds it funny.

"A lot of people are cruel to animals and get away with it, but here is video evidence to prove it."

Kath Airey, chairwoman of Halifax and District RSPCA, said the videos had been reported to the RSPCA Inspectorate.

She said: "Anything like this is particularly concerning and needs reporting to inspectors.

"They will investigate. The RSPCA would not hesitate in prosecuting if they find an animal had been abused."
She said of the skittle game: "It's basically adults using animals as a toy.

"I certainly would not like to be thrown across the floor like a bowling ball."

Carol Pope, who runs a ferret rescue sanctuary and has been rehoming the animals since 1996, said: "It's not on.

"I personally would not be happy if these were my ferrets."

Is 'ferret skittles' cruel? Vote now in our poll on the right.

Courier Comment - cruel game or a bit of fun?