FORMER James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore is on another difficult mission - to free 33 African lions after being abused in the circus.

The acclaimed actor wants to reunite the lions with their homeland after they endured years of brutality and confinement in circuses in Peru and Columbia.

He was compelled to help after discovering how most of the lions had been badly abused.

Some of them have had their claws removed, one has lost an eye, another is practically blind and many have smashed teeth.

Returning them to the wild is now impossible and their next best option is a sanctuary in South Africa.

He has teamed up with Animal Defenders International to try and fly the big cats home.

But it will cost a whopping £220,000 to fly all 33 felines direct from Lima to Johannesburg on a Boeing 747 chartered by the charity.

He has asked the public for help by making donations to help give the lions a new lease of life.

Sir Roger said: "Please give what you can to help give the animals saved by Animal Defenders International the peace and sanctuary they need.

“Together we can take these animals, who have suffered so much, to their forever homes.”

Jan Creamer, Animal Defenders International President said: “For these lions, Sir Roger really is the spy who loved them. With the public’s help we will give these lions the happily-ever-after they deserve, arriving neither shaken, nor stirred after their epic journey."