SCORES of people packed the pavements around The Square in Holsworthy for the annual Boxing Day festive meet of the Tetcott Hunt, generously hosted by Jill and Ashley Tallon, licensees of the Kings Arms.

Hunt staff along with tinsel decorated riders and horses, with the eager pack of hounds, made for a magnificent colourful sight — a fine example of a well-loved countryside tradition.

Hunt treasurer, Diana Stevens, was delighted to see the large crowd showing their continuing support for hunting.

She said: “It was lovely to see the horses and hounds lapping up the attention and fuss from many in the excited crowd, some of whom were visiting from France.

“Hunt followers come from all walks of life and from all age ranges making hunting one of the most inclusive past times.

“For me I was born into a farming family and have ridden to hounds for well over 20 years starting when I was 11 with a neighbouring hunt.

“Many people still don’t realise that, since the 2004 Hunting Act which banned foxhunting, hunts now follow pre-laid scent trails for the hounds to find and follow.

“Unfortunately today the excessively wet conditions were not conducive to a good scenting day and the hounds had a real challenging time.

“But as I had expressed to the crowd earlier, trail hunting continues the tradition and enables people from many walks of life to enjoy the wonderful British countryside.

“It provides access to farmers’ and landowners’ property allowing riders to gallop across open fields and jump fences and hedges; opportunities not otherwise available to them.”