CRICKETING legend Sir Ian Botham was involved in an on-air row during a debate on a scheme to provide foodbanks with 10,000 pheasants and partridges.

Sir Ian, who has a home at Ravensworth, near Richmond and whose son Liam has a 2,500 acre shooting estate at Sawley, near Ripon, is working with the Country Food Trust to provide 500,000 meals to foodbanks using the birds for curries and casseroles.

The Northern Echo:

Sir Ian Botham promotes new campaign to use shot game birds as meals for foodbanks

Sir Ian was interviewed about the scheme on BBC5Live this morning by host Rachel Burden.

"According to information we have received and which is readily available to everybody, there are a lot of people out there who are struggling and a lot of people who cannot get a proper square meal," he said, explaining the scheme.

"Our plan is to donate 10,000 birds and pay for the processing and we would produce out of that pheasant casserole with vegetables and partridge curry. For every one that is bought we will donate one to the homeless.

"It is costing us about £40,000 a year."

However, the conversation soon became heated.

"We know millions of birds, up to 50 million birds are bred each year to be shot as a sport," said Burden.

Sir Ian interjected, saying: "How many chickens are bred with a six-week life?"

"I think it's the shooting for sport that some people have an issue with," said Burden.

Sir Ian chuckled and said: "Yeah, ok...and what's the issue?"

"Well I think perhaps some people find it a bit hard to get their heads round killing animals for sport," replied Burden.

Trying to put it into context, Sir Ian said: "You enjoy walking in the countryside, you enjoy seeing the countryside, you enjoy seeing the rivers, you enjoy seeing everything that goes on.

"If you don't look after the grouse moor or the countryside they disintegrate, they die and you won't see anything."

Burden said: "I know and I have read that argument. I have read the research that certainly supports that. I have also read animal rights groups say 'actually, the conditions in which these birds are kept are appalling, they carry diseases that can be transmitted into the countryside."

Sir Ian interupted and after a brief to and fro added: "At the end of the day, we are here trying to help up to 14 million people in this country who go without a proper feed. Every single one bought by the public we will donate one so I don't actually see what your problem is with that?"

Burden said she didn't have a problem with that, but was just discussing the issue.

Further interuptions then occurred on both sides, with Burden saying: "Can I just finish Mr Botham, I am really sorry, otherwise people don't know what we are talking about."

Burden brought up the issue of grouse shooting, but Sir Ian said the matter had nothing to do with that and was purely about "pheasant casserole and partridge curry".

"If you have a better solution I am ready to hear it," he said, adding: "I have come on hear to promote something that we feel is giving back to people who are in a far worse position than you and me."

Burden then sought to change the subject.

"Can we ask you a question about the cricket?" she said.

"No, I am not here to talk about the cricket," Sir Ian said.

"Now, you came with an agenda.."

Burden said she didn't, rather it was "imperative to ask questions around broad issues".

She offered Sir Ian a final comment and he replied: "What I would like to say is what are you doing for those 14 million people?

"My job as a journalist is to ask questions," she replied.

Sir Ian said in response: "My point is we are actually trying to make an effort and make a difference. It has nothing to do with grouse shooting, which was thrown out of parliament, which you failed to mention.

"I think we are making an effort, do you not agree?"

"It's not for me to agree or disagree," said Burden.

"But you can be very opinionated can't you?" he replied, before saying goodbye.

Sir Ian had told the Sunday Times he was expecting criticism from the anti-hunting lobby.

He added: "I fail to understand how there is an argument against it. If everybody out there is a vegetarian or a vegan, well fine, but they are not. So smell the coffee, try it. We are offering something that has had a wild life, a good life."