A LEADING figure among South Lakes hunting groups has responded with disappointment following the prime ministers abandonment of her pledge to hold a vote on overturning the fox hunting ban.

Theresa May initially promised to have MPs vote on the issue as part of the Tory party election manifesto. However, at the weekend she announced this would not happen.

The move has led to accusations of weak leadership, and some hunting enthusiasts claim that the continued ban harms the traditions of the Lake District.

Roger Westmorland, chairman of Cumbria Fell Packs, said: "We are disappointed, but this was what we were expecting. It is telling of the kind of prime minister we have.

"The ban on hunting does have a negative impact on the Lake District. We have been given world heritage status, but they take our heritage away from us.

"Hunting with hounds has been around for so long. In banning it they encourage all this lamping and shooting at night, which is ridiculously dangerous.

"This way, lots of foxes get away wounded and they suffer an awful death.

"With hunting with hounds, the foxes are either caught and dispatched, or left to live another day.

"People want to realise that mother nature is cruel. Living here in the country you see that."

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron spoke in favour of fox hunting remaining illegal.

He said: "Theresa May has dropped the plan for the vote because she has to because of the weak position she is in. Half ber cabinet are more powerful than she is.

"The plans that Theresa May had were not properly thought out. She wanted a straight forward abolition of the ban.

"If you are going to change the law you need to think it through. She didn't, wo I was highly critical or the original plan, and I am glad she has dropped it.

"Animal welfare is very important and needs to be treated as such. It can't be determined by over-simplistic policy."

Chris Pitt, Deputy Director of Campaigns at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "It appears that the Government now accepts that cruel sports should no longer be a part of 21st century society.

"It’s good to know they won’t try to legalise it again in this Parliament – though they may try again in the next.

The Government has recently pledged to recognise animal sentience and introduce tougher sentencing for animal cruelty so it would make no sense if the Hunting Act was to be repealed – hunting is a barbaric practice which still sees British wildlife being torn to pieces by packs of hounds.

"Recent polling showed that opposition to hunting in the UK remains at an all-time high of 85 per cent, so it’s clear that this pledge will be popular with the public.

"Despite what the hunts say, it’s not only the ‘townies’ who oppose blood sports but people in the countryside too, with more than eight out of ten people in rural areas in support of keeping the ban on fox hunting."