THE planned return of a festival celebrating illegal fox hunting to Peterborough has been slammed by national animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS).

The Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show and the Festival of Hounds — formerly known as the Festival of Hunting — are due to return to the city this summer.

The show had been forced to relocate after the East of England Showground was earmarked for development.

But the Countryside Alliance, an organisation that promotes blood sports, has announced the festival’s return for 2024.

LACS head of campaigns Emma Judd said: “Fox hunting is a barbaric blood sport and we are calling on the showground to stop hosting this festival of cruelty.

“It’s time for change. This festival is an anachronism, as is hunting with hounds, and progressive cities like Peterborough should have no room for it.

“We also call on the next government to strengthen hunting laws so this barbaric practice is ended once and for all.”