WHILE recent poor weather and the emergence of a deadly parasite among grouse were expected to affect North-East shoots on the Glorious Twelfth, the sport is expected to thrive on the North York Moors, where several shoots were out in force yesterday.

George Winn-Darley, of the North York Moors Moorland Association, which organises shoots, said grouse numbers were up on previous years and that the killer bug trichostrongylus was not thought to have affected birds.

The bug thrives in heather in wet weather and eventually attaches itself to the bird's gullet, starving it to death.

Its appearance has led to a dismal start to the season in many parts of the North-East, with few or no shoots taking place in Weardale, Teesdale and South Northumberland.

"Obviously, last year we were in the thick of the foot-and-mouth crisis, so there were not that many shoots about," Mr Winn-Darley said.

But he said that the North Yorkshire season could potentially be blighted by a different type of grouse killer.

"Up in the North York Moors we suffer from louping III, which is a blood-born virus spread by sheep ticks," he said. "Once it gets into the grouse's blood, it is fatal. Hopefully, this will not be a problem this season."

Simon Bostock, chairman of the Moorland Association, said the cold weather and recent flooding had diminished hopes slightly, but initial reports had been good.

"I think that in this part of the country - Nidderdale and the Yorkshire Dales in general - the prospects are moderate," he said.

But the League of Cruel Sports has urged shooters to "realise the harm that they are doing to the rural environment".

Chief executive Douglas Batchelor described the Glorious Twelfth as a "bad news day for conservation" but there were thought to be few protests yesterday.