(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Reese Witherspoon has succumbed to PETA's demands that she stop using her python skin handbag.

The actress was seen with the brown Chloe Paraty python and leather bag around LA which caused an outrage from the animal rights group.

RadarOnline reported that the actress was using the bag but that she could not have bought it from California because the snakeskin has been banned from sale in the state since 1970.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a copy of their video showing how snakes and other reptiles are often skinned alive and suffer slow and painful deaths to make the luxury accessories.

And now the Water for Elephants star has agreed to ditch the bag in favour of something more animal friendly.

"Thankfully, Reese has just informed PETA that she will no longer carry the bag," the organisation's media officer Wendy Wegner told Radar.

"We've long known Reese to be a kind person, so we're pleased and not surprised that she is hanging up her python bag for good," PETA's SVP Lisa Lange added.

"We hope Reese's honest mistake will serve as a reminder for all of us to be extra-certain that what we're buying is mock crock or fake snake."

Many celebrities including Pamela Anderson and Khlo Kardashian have posed nude for PETA for their "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" campaigns. (C) Cover Media