A carriage tour operator has repeated her call for city bosses not to pull the plug on her 40-year business by banishing horses from the city.

Dee Charles, who has operated from Front Street with her husband Hobby since the 1960s, hit out after the Corporation of Hamilton passed a resolution giving it the power to restrict horses and carriages on the capital's streets.

She said accidents during her four decades of service have been minimal and her business faces being unfairly punished because of a stampede involving somebody else's runaway horses in April.

That incident, which left 19 people injured during the first Harbour Nights tourist event of the year, led to calls for animals to be kept out of Hamilton.

But Mrs. Charles, of Shilo stables, who has previously warned her 16 horses will have to be put down if a ban is introduced, said yesterday: "Oh goodness, this is nothing to do with my company. I just feel we are being very unfairly treated.

"This step forward is to ensure if there's another accident on Front Street we are off completely. You don't know how much pressure that puts on our drivers.

"My husband is very hurt. It's a constant taunt to him and it's very stressful to him.

"This is what we built our business on. We spent $200,000 on a stable in Hamilton five years ago.

"We live in a rented apartment. Who is going to compensate us? Are we supposed to take this lot?

"I am hoping to speak to the Corporation but what good is that going to do? I feel they have already decided."

She said the only accidents involving her horses in 40 years have been a small handful caused by cars crashing into them, while horses not being used are tethered to a bar by the stand to ensure they don't run amok.

"Accidents happen, but nothing like the stampede has happened with our horses," she said. "This is silly; it is crazy. How many tourists do you see on bikes getting into accidents? They allow that to happen on Front Street. We have a couple of accidents, whoever it is, and it's a big thing."

Mrs. Charles said she had received support from the public since a temporary ban was placed on horses on Wednesday evenings.

"A heck of a lot of people call me up and ask about Wednesday nights. That's when most Bermudians go for a ride," she said.

"I have had so many people stop and shout to me: 'Good luck, they can't do this to you! This is part of our heritage!' We have had so much support."

Trouble erupted on April 25 when two horses owned by Dockyard-based operator Ray Bean broke loose and tore through a barrier and down Front Street with their carriage. Three weeks later, a second unmanned horse and carriage bolted along Front Street onto Bermudiana Road before a member of the public grabbed the carriage and brought it to a halt on Par-la-Ville Road.

The owner of this vehicle was never made public.

The Corporation of Hamilton said yesterday that the resolution was due to be published as an official order or ordinance on Wednesday next week.

Its members are set to meet in the near future to decide whether there should be a ban on horses and carriages. Mayor Sutherland Madeiros said earlier this week: "There are people in the public who think it's the worst thing we could do, to ban horses, and there are people who think it's the worst thing we could do not to ban horses."

Mr. Madeiros said the Corporation was hoping to meet Mrs. Charles on the issue and has urged the public to make their views known by visiting City Hall or calling the Corporation on 292-1234.