Stroud MP David Drew has signed a petition calling for hunting legislation to be strengthened, amid growing concerns that British wildlife is still being targeted due to loopholes in the law.

The petition was launched by animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports due to concerns that illegal hunting is taking place.

Shadow Environment Minister David Drew met with charity representatives who told him that trail hunting is being used as a cover for illegal hunting and that they believe that exemptions and loopholes in the law are resulting in wildlife being chased and killed in the name of sport.

MP David Drew said that he was happy to support the charity's campaign.

“I abhor any form of animal cruelty and am more than happy to support the League Against Cruel Sports’ campaign,” he said.

The Hunting Act 2004 prohibits packs of hounds from chasing and killing foxes, deer, hares and mink, but most hunts converted to trail hunting after the ban and use this, as well as exemptions within the law, as an excuse to continue targeting animals.

But the League says that their evidence shows that trail hunting is a deception and genuine trails are hardly ever laid.

Additionally the charity’s investigators claimg that they are witnessing hunting that looks very similar to pre-ban activity, but when foxes and other wildlife is chased and killed, the hunts claim it was accidental.

Campaigners insist that the strengthening of existing hunting legislation is urgently needed to prevent trail hunting and other false alibis being used to circumvent the law.

Chris Luffingham, director of campaigns for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “One of the reasons hunting was banned was because animals suffer terribly when chased by a hunt. It’s cruel, it’s illegal and it’s time we strengthened legislation and prevented the cruel minority from flouting the law.”

Trail hunting is intended to closely mimic traditional hunting, it involves laying a trail of animal-based scent for hunts to track.

There are still more than 300 active hunts across Great Britain, the majority of which now practise trail hunting.

However, the charity says that hunts are being witnessed chasing and killing foxes, hares and deer.

“The majority of people back the ban on hunting and they’re becoming wise to trail hunting.

"Hounds are being caught trespassing, foxes are being killed, and even people’s pets are being chased and killed,” Chris Luffingham added.