The Glorious 12th, when the traditional grouse shooting season gets under way, looks as though it will be distinctly un-glorious in the North this year.

Shooting has been cancelled in a large area of Northumberland after bad weather during the summer hatching season saw the number of young birds plummet.

The Moorland Association yesterday predicted a good season for grouse shooting in most of the country but some estates in the Alnwick area and West Cumbria cancelled shooting this year after many newly-hatched chicks were killed by heavy rain and hailstones during the June hatching season.

They took the decision after recent "grouse counts" which provide vital information about the numbers of surplus birds available for shooting in the coming season.

Simon Bostock, chairman of the Moorland Association, said yesterday: "As grouse are a completely wild bird, moor owners carry out careful counts prior to the start of the season to make sure that they have a shootable surplus of birds, leaving a healthy young stock for following years.

"Strong populations are very good news for moor owners and the local economy that relies on income from shooting customers.

"No matter how good your keepering may be, each year's weather is a huge factor in a grouse moor's success."

Moors cancelling shooting in North Northumberland include the Lilburn Estate near Wooler and the nearby Linhope owned by Lord James Percy, younger brother of the Duke of Northumberland.

Last night Lilburn Estates general manager Ian Hall said: "We have cancelled all our shooting because the rain simply washed us out in June. We had five inches of rain in less than 36 hours.

"If you don't have the grouse you can't shoot and what is there is needed to make sure we can shoot in future years.

"It is a big blow because it costs us income, it is a loss of employment for part-time beaters and the local hotels don't get the trade from visiting parties of shooters."

A spokesman at the Linhope Estate said: "The weather has had a dramatic effect on brood sizes this year and cancelling shooting is a conservation measure for future years."

Moorland Association spokeswoman Amanda Anderson said shooting can generate £60,000 to £70,000 a year so it is a big decision.