The man was shooting rabbits with a friend in fields near Brockton, a few miles from Bishop’s Castle when the incident happened at 9.30pm on Friday evening.

It is believed the man was taking part in an organised hunting trip when the accident occured.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: “We are continuing to investigate the circumstances but at this stage it would appear to be a tragic accident.”

The man and his friend are understood to come from the Litchfield area of Staffordshire.

A post mortem will be held tomorrow and Coroner John Ellery has been informed.