A petition signed by 122,000 people from across Europe was handed to the Office of the Prime Minister this afternoon after a small demonstration by a group of BirdLife members.

The group of about 10 carried placards reading No Spring Hunting as they walked to the Auberge de Castille, where BirdLife President Joseph Mangion handed in the petition.

Those taking part also carried three birds - a Common Kestrel and two Marsh Harriers - which were injured by gunshots. They were later handed in at Valletta police station.

Mr Mangion said there had been various episodes of protected birds being shot over the past weeks, showing there was no control over this sector, even when the hunting season had not been opened yet.

The petition urges the government not to allow spring hunting because it would lead to illegal killing of migratory birds.

"We sincerely hope that you will respect the Birds Directive which bans hunting in spring and also the European Court of Justice ruling which found Malta's previous spring hunting derogations unlawful," the petition says.