A CELEBRATORY event for a local hunt group that was due to take place at a Stourton pub has been cancelled amid pressure from anti-hunt activists and animal rights supporters.

The Albrighton and Woodland Hunt had been due to hold its end of season supper at The Fox Inn on Bridgnorth Road on March 21.

However, the pub came under fire on social media after anti-hunt organisation Staffordshire Hunt Sabs highlighted that it was set to host the event.

Many posters rushed to the popular pub’s defence but others said they would boycott The Fox in future if it went ahead.

Pub bosses have remained silent about the furore, but the Albrighton and Woodland Hunt confirmed it has cancelled the event.

A spokesperson for the group said: “The bullying tactics of the anti-hunt and animal rights group have caused distress and anxiety to a local business who has lost a considerable amount of revenue as a result.

“Unfortunately, when faced with such bullying and harassment pubs have no choice, they cannot risk confrontation occurring.”

Announcing the news on its Facebook page, the Sabs group said: “We are pleased to inform you that the Fox Inn, Stourton, have confirmed they will not be hosting the Albrighton's end of season supper, on March 21. We commend them for making this decision.”

The group gave a “massive shout out to all the landowners, businesses and members of the public that have taken a stand against any hunt this season” and accused the hunt group of “relentlessly chasing foxes” – something it strenuously denies.

The Albrighton and Woodland Hunt stressed it “always hunts within the law” and accused anti-hunt activists of making “false allegations in order to pursue their own misleading agenda”.

Fox hunting was outlawed in England, Scotland and Wales in 2004 and replaced with trail hunting, which sees horse riders and hounds pursuing an animal-based scent across a pre-planned route.

The League Against Cruel Sports, however, claims the law is being “ignored or exploited by hunts on a regular basis” up and down the country and Staffordshire Hunt Sabs says its members have to go out “week in and week out protect wildlife”.

The Fox has not responded to requests to comment on the matter.