BBC show, Countryfile, has investigated claims that gamebirds are a natural and organic alternative to battery reared chicken and found them to be far from accurate.

The program, which aired on Sunday 11 May, follows up on a report by the League, which exposes battery rearing practices and mass importation of birds at shoots around the country.

Cerys Roberts, shooting campaigner at the League said: 'I'd like to congratulate Countryfile for exposing some of the lies surrounding gamebirds and the shooting industry as a whole. It's not fair that the public are duped into buying meat they believe is wild and natural when in fact it is often anything but'.

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Tory MP Nicholas Soames has been given a two month driving ban and fined £200 after he was filmed riding a quad bike whilst following a hunt. The Mid-Sussex MP had no insurance and was towing a trailer carrying three children without crash helmets. Prosecutor Nigel Pilkington stated in court, "Had any injury occurred to his party, or any others there would have been no insurance in place to compensate the parties." att Fox, League hunting campaigner welcomed the news saying: 'This is another example of hunt supporters acting as if they are above the law'

Despite failing to ban snares, the Scottish Government has revealed that 99.9 per cent of people who contacted it about snaring in the last year expressed the view that snaring should be banned.

Responding to the questions the Minister for Environment, Mike Russell MSP, said he had received 7,192 representations in regard to snaring since May 2007 and that a massive 7,182 (99.9%) of these were calling for a ban.

The Government has already been criticised for ignoring a public consultation on snaring in which 70% of respondents called for a ban, and an independent opinion poll which showed that three quarters (75%) of people in Scotland want a ban on snares.

Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart said; 'The Government has shown a total lack of regard for the feelings of Scots on this issue. It is appalling that so many people have quite simply been ignored in reaching this unpopular decision to allow the practice of snaring to continue.'

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The controversial North Shropshire Hunt has been refused permission to build new kennels.

The kennels were due to house up to 80 hounds but plans were thrown out by the local council after a poor proposal from developers and strong objections from locals.

The hunt previously hit the headlines when it was ordered to comply with the law and keep hounds on leads when on public highways.

Matt Fox, campaigner for the League said: 'We are delighted that common sense has prevailed. This was a controversial application and the campaigners from 'No to hunt kennel' are to be congratulated for their tenacity'

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The systematic use of snaring to trap and kill mountain hares has been uncovered by League investigators on land used for shooting near Cawdor.

Investigators found sixteen dead mountain hares along with evidence of extensive snaring in areas which would almost certainly trap and kill this vulnerable species. Under current regulations snares can only be used to trap hares under license. The League has learnt that no licenses to carry out such extensive killing of hares have been issued since February 2006 making the snaring of any hare in Scotland illegal.

Even with such a license snares must be checked every 24 hours with any animal which has been trapped being either released or humanely dispatched. League evidence shows that this is clearly not the case with rotting carcasses still attached to many of the snares.

Scotland Campaigner for the League, Louise Robertson said; 'We are extremely concerned about the sheer density of wildlife persecution which seems to be taking place here. This is the systematic slaughter of wildlife for the financial gain which can be made from grouse shooting.'

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The best known area of open space in Yorkshire could soon be reverberating to the sound of guns as Bradford Council draws up plans to allow corporate shooters back on the moor for the first time in 11 years. The Council is inviting private companies to bid for a three-year  grouse shooting lease which would begin in July.

Cerys Roberts shooting campaigner for the League said: 'Ilkley Moor was gifted to the public in 1893 for the public pleasure - there is no reason why this right should be sold off to the highest bidder and local people denied access to their land whilst gangs of shooters kill birds for fun.'

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Ice-cream giant, Ben & Jerry's has withdrawn its sponsorship of a Portuguese student party after the League alerted it to plans to hold a bullfight as part of the festivities.

The party attracts up to 10,000 students annually and this year is due to take place in a restored bullring. Organisers had planned to distribute free Ben & Jerry's ice-cream donated by the company.

Ben & Jerry's withdrew its support after being contacted by the League and issued the following statement:

'Ben & Jerry's was aware that the party is due to take place in a restored bull-fighting ring, which is frequently used for corporate events. At no point was the company informed that there would be bullfighting at the event.  Upon learning of this, the company has withdrawn all of its support for the event.'

Florian Leppla, bullfighting campaigner at the League said: 'Ben & Jerry's was as shocked as us when they learned what was planned for the party and acted swiftly to correct their mistake, if only all big-business shared their ethical principles.'

The RSPB has spoken out against the slaughter of rare birds of prey by gamekeepers desperate to protect the grouse on their shooting estates.

The charity has launched a campaign to increase the numbers of rare birds such as golden eagles, hen harriers and peregrine falcons and has railed against the illegal persecution of these magnificent animals.

Cerys Roberts, Shooting Campaigner for the League said: 'We commend the RSPB for taking a stand against the unacceptable and illegal killing of birds of prey on upland shooting estates. Not only are these birds are being killed illegally, but many more animals are slaughtered on shooting estates using legal snares'

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Spanish bulls will undergo anti-doping tests in a bid to stamp out pre-fight drugging, which aids the matadors by leaving the bulls too confused and weary to fight.

The new measures are being introduced to the Madrid region by local authorities, following a long history of suspected doping in the industry.

Florian Leppla, bullfighting campaigner at the League said: 'All this story does is highlight just how much of sham this disgusting sport really is'.

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New poll results have revealed that 76% of the British public believe it is wrong to promote bullfighting to tourists.

The ComRes poll, which was commissioned by the League, also reveals that an overwhelming 89% would never visit a bullfight.

The results add to mounting pressure upon the tourism industry to stop promoting bullfighting to British tourists and to cease to collaborate with bullfight organisers.

'The message could not be any clearer: the British public find bullfighting unacceptable.' said Florian Leppla, bullfighting campaigner at the League.

The poll was sponsored by the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust.

For full tables please visit the comres website