The West of England Metro Mayor, Dan Norris, has welcomed today’s announcement by the National Trust that it will stop issuing licences for trail hunts on its land as a ‘big step forward.’

Mr. Norris is a long-standing anti-hunt campaigner, and joined activists from the League Against Cruel Sports at National Trust property Dyrham Park in September to support a ban on trail hunting.

Dan Norris said: “I really welcome the news that the National Trust has banned trail hunting on its land.

Today’s announcement is a big step forward.

“I’ve campaigned against fox-hunting for decades, and have repeatedly said that getting the fox hunting ban through Parliament was one of the best things I achieved as a Labour MP. It sends a really strong message that there isn’t a place for hunting in a civilised society – so I’m delighted the National Trust has taken this decision, and I hope other organisations will follow.”