THOUSANDS of people came out to cheer on the annual gatherings of the Boxing Day Hunts.

Horses and hounds gathered in Ledbury, Leominster and Hay-on-Wye to follow artificial trails.

The biggest crowd could be seen to wish the Ledbury Hunt on their way as around 3,000 filled the High Street.

Many of the 30 riders enjoyed hot punch from the saddle, courtesy of the nearby Feathers Hotel.

This year, a number of American voices could be heard in the crowd which, according to Hunt supporters, was an indication of the pull of the spectacle that represents the appeal of traditional rural England.

The riders' ages ranged from 10-year-old kids to Ivor Stephens who, at 94, is perhaps the oldest active member of any hunt in the land.

There was little in the way of protest at the three county meets but over the Welsh border there were clashes in Tredegar where campaigners waved placards claiming the riders had 'blood on their hands'.

Several police officers stood between the self-described “saboteur groups” and the pro-hunt supporters, with both sides trading verbal blows throughout the morning.

Meanwhile, the League Against Cruel Sports wants to see more done to ensure the law banning the hunting of foxing is properly enforced.

"We would like to see both the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales, and the Wild Mammals Protection (Scotland) Act 2002 strengthened, as currently hunts are regularly either simply ignoring the law under the cover of false alibis such as “trail hunting”, or abusing the use of ‘exemptions’ to allow them to carry on as normal," the group claimed.