MADRID, Murcia and the Comunidad Valenciana have announced their intention to declare bull-running festivals an event of national cultural heritage.

This includes fiestas were bulls are set to run loose in the streets, sometimes with sparklers attached to their horns; bull-fights, and the 'bulls in the sea' (Bous a la Mar) events traditional of the seaside town of Dénia (Alicante).

Leaders of all three regions want to see festivals featuring bulls reclaimed as a sign of Spain's national identity, hence the decision to declare them a Bien de Interés Cultural.

President of Extremadura, Guillermo Fernández Vara, also joined the debate, defending bullfights on the grounds that they provide jobs, are good for the economy, and help the environment because of the number of bulls out to pasture which would not be bred but for the festivals.

He said: “If anyone doesn't understand this, they should go to my village, Olivenza, this weekend and see just to what extent these fiestas contribute to growth, wealth and maintenance of the pasture.”

Catalunya has gone the other way and intends to ban all bull-related festivals on the grounds that they are cruel to the animals and put the public's safety in jeopardy.

But the other regions say this is likely to cause a loss of taxes and jobs.

Vice-president of the central government, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, says she respects both sides of the argument.