A PRO-SHOOTING exhibition in the House of Commons which coincided with the second anniversary of the Dunblane massacre has been cancelled following the intervention of an East Lancashire MP.

The proposal from the 120,000-strong British Association for Shooting and Conservation to hold the Westminster display next week caused outrage from MPs and anti-gun campaigners.

But after it was revealed that Friday 13th - the last day of the exhibition - coincided with the anniversary of Thomas Hamilton shooting 16 primary school children and their Great Harwood-born teacher Gwen Mayor.

The exhibition had been slammed by Hyndburn MP Greg Pope who was born in Harwood and has late Mrs Mayor's parents among his constituents.

He welcomed the news that it had been cancelled and said: "I am delighted about this.

"The House authorities have really got to be more aware of things like this. I welcome the fact it has been withdrawn and am sorry about the controversy that has arisen, but am glad that it's all over. It will have done the shooters case no good whatsoever."

Mr Pope added: "I am very pleased that the exhibition has been cancelled and that there will be no further distress to the relatives."

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