A total ban on the use of animal snares was ruled out by the Scottish Government yesterday.

Environment Minister Mike Russell said new controls would strictly limit snare use and ban certain types of snares that inflict unnecessary suffering, but ministers stopped short of bringing in the total ban some animal welfare groups had been expecting.

Mr Russell said new penalties to punish people who use them illegally will also be considered with a view to legislation in the policy outlined yesterday.

A spokesman for the League Against Cruel Sports said last night members were "terribly disappointed".

Their campaign had won the backing of high profile animal lovers, including actress Joanna Lumley, Queen guitarist Brian May and Annette Crosbie from the BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave.

An opinion poll carried out last year for the league found only 19% of people in Scotland were aware snares were legal, and 75% wanted them banned.

Barry Hugill, league spokesman, said: "How can Mr Russell claim to speak for the Scottish people when he ignores their clear wishes?"

Mr Russell said: "I greatly respect those who campaign for a complete ban on snaring and I empathise with them ... yet no responsible politician can ignore the fact that there are those who argue equally passionately that snaring is a regrettable but essential tool for high quality land management in Scotland.

"A Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust field experiment showed that predator control increased the breeding stock of the wild grey partridge by 42%. Without such control, stocks declined in most years."

The measures to be introduced include a requirement for safety stops to be fitted, to prevent the noose on snares from closing too far and inflicting damage on animals.

Snares will also have to have ID tags, so the authorities, but not the public, can identify their owner.

Setting snares in places where they could cause unnecessary suffering - such as on posts or over water - will be banned, and snared areas will have to be clearly marked.