The lead guitarist of the iconic rock band Queen, Brian May, has praised a council after it banned all forms of fox hunting on its land.
Last week, Nottinghamshire County Council voted to ban all hunting with dogs on land it owns.
Fox hunting is illegal, but there are several technicalities which some say are still being used to get round the ban.
The new ban blocks all forms of hunting with animals, including those 'loopholes', on any land owned by the council.
Now, Dr May, who is a vocal animal rights critic, has Tweeted his support of the ban.
He said the council was “an example to the whole of Britain".
“Time to move on. Zero tolerance for blood 'sports'. Congratulations Nottinghamshire County Council,” he tweeted.
Fox hunting banned on council-owned land - despite Tory objections
The plan to ban it was brought forward by Labour councillors.
The Conservatives - who control the council in coalition with the Mansfield Independents - voted against the ban calling it ’silly’, ‘pointless’ and ‘nonsense’.
However they lost by just one vote - the first defeat since they took control of the council in 2017.
The League Against Cruel Sports also spoke out in favour of the ban, calling it a ‘landmark’ decision.
Chris Luffingham, director of campaigns at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “This is a significant decision both for the county of Nottinghamshire and the country as a whole.
“We welcome a ban that not only recognises that animals are still being killed by hunts, but that the excuse of ‘trail’ hunting is nothing more than a lie.
“The League has received 282 reports of illegal hunting in the current hunting season, including 39 reported fox kills.
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“We welcome Nottinghamshire County Council’s trail-blazing decision, and we would encourage other counties across the land to follow suit.”
Labour councillor Nicki Brooks, who represents Carlton East, said she was ‘thrilled’ by the ban.
Speaking after the vote went through, she said: “By supporting the motion this council is simply closing the loophole that allows both the ‘accidental’ and deliberate illegal hunting and killing of animals, as well as a ‘false alibi’ regularly used by hunts to avoid prosecution, from taking place on council-owned land.
“I’m thrilled that we've managed to secure this result here in Nottinghamshire."
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