THE traditional Boxing Day hunt meets took place in Modbury and Kingsbridge this year.

Around 40 people were following the Modbury Harriers on horseback and Church Street was full of foot followers and well-wishers.

Jenny Freeman, Master of Modbury Harriers, said: "We raised over a thousand pounds for the hunt staff, as is tradition on Boxing Day, and had a super day’s trail hunting all around Modbury and towards Kingston."

Although hunting with dogs was banned in 2004, the hunts took part in trail hunting, which involves the horses and hounds following an artificially laid scent trail to follow.

Jenny also thanked the Exeter Inn for their hospitality, keeping everyone full of mulled wine, brandy and ‘loads of food’.

The Countryside Alliance said the Boxing Day meets this year showed ‘huge public support’, and ‘at least a quarter of a million people lined the streets of the UK on Saturday, December 26, for the Boxing Day meets of the 300 plus registered hunts in the UK.

‘This annual spectacle is an opportunity for hunts to thank all those who support them, from the farmers and landowners over whose land they ride, to their subscribers and the public, whose enthusiasm for hunting shows no signs of waning, despite more than a decade of the Hunting Act.’