ANIMAL rights campaigners gathered on Ilkley Moor on Saturday in opposition to the 'Glorious Twelfth', the traditional start of the grouse shooting season on Wednesday.

The 'Walk for Wildlife', organised by the Ban Bloodsports on Ilkley Moor (BBIM) group, was attended by about 60 people, including conservationists and members of local walking and running clubs.

The group state that the moor, owned by Bradford Council, is now the last municipal moorland in the UK where grouse shooting is permitted, claiming the practice is "irresponsible, unworkable, and damaging".

Luke Steele, spokesman for BBIM, which has put up scores of signs to warn moor users of the planned shoots, said: "It is high time Bradford Council reached the same conclusion as every other moorland-owning local authority has done.

"Grouse shooting is incompatible with conservation and public interest, so has to go."

In February this year, the Council ruled that shooting could continue until at least 2018, when its ten-year arrangement giving shooting rights to the Bingley Moor Partnership comes to an end.

Last month, BBIM said it was considering legal action after a new petition presented to the full Council protesting against the contract was noted rather than being referred to committee.