LABOUR is demanding a review into driven grouse shooting at the start of the four-month shooting season that begins today.

Shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman is calling for a review on the basis that  the practice contributes to “substantial” environmental damage.

She said Labour would launch the review in government if the Tories refuse to do so.

The proposed review would consider viable alternatives to driven grouse shooting including simulated shooting and wildlife tourism.

It would also examine the economic and environmental impacts of driven grouse shooting — which involves people known as “beaters” agitating the birds into flying towards the shooters, the most common way of hunting grouse.

Much of grouse moors, together having the equivalent landmass of Greater London, are drained and dried out to prepare for grouse shooting.

This is often done by burning the moors which increases the likelihood of wildfires and flooding, emits carbon and reduces the land’s capacity to capture and absorb carbon emissions, Labour says.

Mountain hares and hen harriers — the latter of which the Royal Society for Protection of Birds describe as being on “the edge of extinction in England” — are often illegally culled in the process.

The 10 largest English grouse moors are paid more than £3 million in farm subsidies every year.

Ms Hayman said: “The costs of grouse shooting on our environment and wildlife needs to be to properly weighed up against the benefit of land owners profiting from shooting parties.

“For too long the Tories have bent the knee to landowners and it’s our environment and our people who pay the price.”

Labour’s demand for a review will be included in its Animal Welfare Manifesto which will be launched at the end of the month.