Anti-fox hunting protesters gather in Shrewsbury

About 20 people, some of who were armed with placards, carried out a march in Pride Hill at lunchtime.

It comes after Theresa May announced she hopes to bring back fox hunting.

The Conservatives will renew a pledge to hold a free vote on overturning 2004 ban on the blood sport, Ms May said.

Wendy Jones, who took part in the protest in Shrewsbury, said: "It was an absolutely brilliant demonstration – one of the best demos I have ever been on.

"We are just a group of people who are really against it. We don't come under an umbrella of anything.

"There was a massive demonstration in London last week and we thought we would do one here in Shrewsbury.

"There were thousands at the one in London and although there was only about 20 of us in Shrewsbury, a lot of people we spoke with are against it."

During a visit to a factory in Leeds, the Prime Minister said: “This is a situation on which individuals will have one view or the other, either pro or against.

“As it happens, personally I have always been in favour of fox hunting, and we maintain our commitment, we have had a commitment previously as a Conservative Party, to allow a free vote.

“It would allow Parliament the opportunity to take the decision on this.”

David Cameron had promised to put the divisive issue to Parliament but did not go ahead with the plan due to a lack of support.

It comes after revelations of a plot by pro-fox hunting campaigners to use a predicted Tory landslide at the general election to repeal the ban.

Tory Lord Mancroft, chairman of the Council of Hunting Associations, said a sizeable majority for Ms May could usher in a new era for fox hunting and a vote on the issue could be scheduled for as early as this year.

Polls suggest fox hunting remains deeply unpopular, with 84 per cent of the public saying the blood sport should not be made legal again.

However, campaigners claim illegal fox hunting continues.