A voluntary agreement to phase out lead shot isn't working - according to a study by researchers at the University of Cambridge. They bought pheasants from butchers, game dealers and supermarkets across Britain this year, and found that of the 171 found to contain shot, 99% contained lead. That's despite a voluntary agreement in 2020 whereby UK shooting organisations agreed to phase out the use of lead shot - which is toxic - and move to alternatives like steel shot by this year. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation says progress has been made.

And around 9 out of 10 farming businesses use contractors. These are firms which offer seasonal or specialised services - from hedge cutting to manure spreading - or which even do all the farming on behalf of the landowner. We start a week long focus on agricultural contractors by asking how it works, and what contractors bring to farming.

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Heather Simons