DESPITE a difficult few weeks for hunt enthusiasts, thousands turned out across Herefordshire to support the traditional Boxing Day meetings.

From Bromyard to Bosbury, Leominster to Ledbury, followers attended on what is one of the busiest meetings of the year.

The impressive numbers come just weeks after two members of Prime Minister
David Cameron’s local hunt – Heythrop in Oxfordshire - were fined for the illegal hunting of foxes with dogs.

But Graham Baker, chairman of the South Herefordshire Hunt, said the negative publicity had not stopped supporters turning out at Christmas.

This year his hunt again made an appearance in Hereford city centre. Hounds and horses gathered just yards from the Cathedral in Castle Street.