NORTH Shropshire's MP joined explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, in supporting a campaign to stop British hunters bringing home trophies of endangered animals.

A recent cross-party committee report found British trophy hunters have brought home 5,000 trophies of threatened species in recent years.

Lib Dem MP Helen Morgan was praised by record-breaking explorer Sir Ranulph and legendary conservationist Jane Goodall who are also pushing for trophy hunting to be banned.

Explorer Ranulph Fiennes said: "I wholeheartedly support Helen Morgan MP’s campaign to stop British trophy hunters bringing home the sick souvenirs of animals they kill for fun. Trophy hunting is barbaric and cowardly.

"It is also sheer madness when so much of the world’s wildlife is under threat."

He added: "We need to listen to what voters are saying and do the right thing for wildlife. That is why I applaud Helen Morgan’s work on this issue.

"They are doing a great job in putting this issue on the map and speaking up for their constituents as well as for endangered animals."

Lions, elephants, hippos and zebras are among the most popular animals.

Others shot and brought into the UK include polar bears, giraffes, cheetahs, rhinos and monkeys.

Mrs Morgan said: "Trophy hunting is disgusting and I fully agree with banning British hunters from bringing back the animals that they kill.

"The law needs to be changed and that’s why I’m supporting this bill.

"We need to be looking after endangered species, not encouraging wealthy people to pay thousands of pounds to shoot them."

A bill to prohibit trophy hunters’ souvenirs is currently going through Parliament. An opinion poll by Survation found 86 per cent of voters are in favour of the ban, with just two per cent against.

Conservationist Jane Goodall also paid tribute to MPs campaigning for the bill, added: "I have struggled to get into the mind of someone who can behave like this.

"We are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers and yet we have these people, so what is motivating them? How can they feel pride?"

For more details on opinion polls on trophy hunting you can visit: www.APPGTrophyHunting.org