Queen guitarist's hunting fight

Brian May said he was "not a campaigning animal really"

Rock star Brian May has visited Wales to try to move fox hunting up the general election agenda.

The Queen guitarist, who campaigned in Pembrokeshire with Labour, claimed Conservatives were "pretending" foxhunting was not a big deal for them.

He said: "To see fox hunting and hare coursing and stag hunting back in the countryside would be a tragedy for British wildlife."

Conservatives responded that they would have a free vote on hunting if elected.

May, who was promoting his Save Me anti-fox hunting campaign, also visited a conservation-led wildlife park in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, and campaigned handing out leaflets with Labour teams in Narberth and Tenby.

He said: "I'm not a campaigning animal really, I just want to do a little bit to help... I still make music.

"That's what I like to do, but I care passionately about our animals and I don't want to see this dreadful thing happen.

"So for my mind it's important to be here and it's important just to say 'Look I'm not preaching to anyone, but the Conservatives will bring back fox hunting and all the other hideous blood sports.' Please, please don't let them do it."

A spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives said: "A Conservative government would give MPs a free vote on whether or not to repeal the hunting ban."

A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: "The big issue for the people of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire is ensuring the future of jobs and services in the area.

"Only Plaid Cymru's John Dixon can be trusted to protect the local communities from the London parties' cuts."

Other candidates in the constituency - the Liberal Democrats, UK Independence Party and an independent - have also been asked to comment.