An Alsager town councillor and local wildlife campaigner is calling on the Government to stop the shooting of wild animals as "permitted exercise" during future lockdowns.

Cllr Jane Smith, who is also deputy leader of the Animal Welfare Party, said that during the current lockdown the local areas around Alsager, Betchton, Scholar Green, Smallwood and beyond had been "rife" with people going out to shoot wild animals, sometimes legally and sometimes illegally.

"The government is allowing leisure shooting under the 'one hour a day of exercise' rule," she said, "but there have been multiple instances of this being flouted, with people travelling into the area just to shoot wildlife and staying for hours.

"Snipe are beautiful wading birds known for their extraordinarily complex plumage patterning and their dramatic twisting take-off, as well as the males' territorial display which can include looping the loop and which can last for a whole hour.

"Any right-minded person would have nothing but love and respect for these magnificent birds, but sadly in Alsager last week one individual decided to use lockdown to go out and shoot snipe for fun.

"While it's sadly permitted to shoot common snipe during the open season from August to January, it disgusts me that the government sees fit to let people walk around the edges of Alsager with guns during lockdown and to shoot birds and other animals for fun when everyone else is told very firmly that we're only allowed one hour of exercise a day.

"Lockdown has been bringing so many people closer to their local environment and the animals we share it with, but for some individuals, lockdown is an excuse to just go out and kill as many animals as possible. This isn't exercise, or a sport – it's sheer barbarism."

Despite being on the amber list of endangered species, some 85,000 common snipes are shot each year in England and Wales, where the open season lasts from 12th August to 31st January.

She continued: "Some of the shooting is going on very near public footpaths, at a time when people are venturing out more than ever to enjoy the countryside, often with small children in tow.

"The shooters often leave dead or badly injured animals around which are then being found by members of the public, which is very distressing for them.

"Helping surviving animals is also placing an extra burden on local wildlife hospitals at a time when they're really struggling as small charities."

Cllr Smith urged residents to report any shooting or suspicious activity around wild animals that they think might be illegal, and to write to MP Fiona Bruce asking for a ban on the legal shooting of animals for leisure during future lockdowns.

Other wildlife groups have joined Cllr Smith in expressing their concern.

Judith Worsdale, spokesperson for local group Wildlife Action, said its members had also witnessed a "very significant" increase in wildlife crime during lockdown, with vehicles coming into the area from elsewhere for hare coursing, badger baiting and other illegal activities.

"We're also finding that it's very difficult to get the police out to these incidents," says Mrs Worsdale, "partly because they're inundated with calls about wildlife crime in the area.

"We would ask members of the public to report suspected wildlife crime to the police, asking for an incident number. It is illegal to interfere with badgers or badger setts at any time and reports around this or hare coursing should be 999 calls."