THERE may not be a grouse moor in sight in Gloucestershire, but that does not mean it is not a prime spot for shooting enthusiasts to perfect their skills.

With today marking the start of the grouse season, activity at a Cotswold shooting school is hotting up.

Owner Ian Coley has installed a simulated grouse drive just in time for the new season – the 'Glorious Twelfth'.

He said: "I'm expecting a lot of people to come and hone their skills with me. We have already had many come to practise. This year is predicted to be a good year in terms of the numbers of grouse."

Enthusiasts can improve their aim in the new drive at the shooting school near Andoversford.

A grouse butt, which consists of a circle of stones, has been installed for the guns to stand, and clays are fired towards it from traps at different heights, angles and speeds.

The set-up simulates what it would be like for shooters when real grouse are driven towards them on the moors.

The sport is popular because grouse, found on moors in Scotland and the north of England, are one of the few truly wild game birds in the UK.

It is also the first shooting season to start up, with partridge following in September and pheasant in October.

Mr Coley said: "The grouse season finishes in December, but we are busy until October with practising for grouse shooting.

"From September onwards, we are busy with people practising for partridge and pheasant shooting."

The sport has a big following in the county.

"Shooting is a very big pastime in the UK, but Gloucestershire is particularly noted as a shooting county," added Mr Coley, who will coach the national shooting team for his sixth Olympics at London 2012.

"The nice part about shooting is that it can be done by people from all sorts of backgrounds – you don't have to be a multi-millionaire."

Adrian Blackmore, moorlands director for the Countryside Alliance, said: "There are 149 grouse moors in England. Some are owned by people throughout the country, a number of whom live in Gloucestershire.

"People travel from all parts of England, including Gloucestershire, to take part."