A hunt has been barred from a centuries-old Feast Day in Cornwall after animal rights activists and vegans used a petition to persuade the local council that the tradition is 'outdated and inhumane'.

Over 5,000 people signed a Change.org petition urging St Ives town council to stop the Western Hunt from joining the rest of the members of town and country organisations during the celebration.

Traditionally members of the hunt, the most westerly in the British Isles with a history dating back to 1820, has met in the Royal Square at 11am, enjoyed a drink from the Stirrup Cup offered by the mayor, before setting off with hounds and horses.

Now, the council has decided not to issue the group with an invitation, responding to a recommendation from its Community and Environment Committee – which described hunting as “an anachronism” – the full council agreed the hunt’s regular invitation should be withdraw forthwith.

The committee reported that “the character of the parish had changed from one dominated by a rural economy to one where most people no longer wished to have the hunt in the town.”

Backing that view the full council resolved: “The Council ceases to invite the Western Hunt to the annual Feast Day from the 2019 Feast Day until such time as this decision is repealed.”