Boxing Day hunts out in force in Shropshire
The traditional Boxing Day hunts took to the streets of Shropshire and mid Wales with as strong a support as ever.
Between one and two thousands people crowded into Welshpool to see the Tanatside Hunt parade through the centre of the town while there were similar spectacles in Newport town centre with the Albrighton Hunt and at Ludlow.
There the Ludlow Hunt rode through the Castle Gates and through the town, watched by hundreds of people.
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With fears over demonstrations and saboteurs many groups were not publicising their Boxing Day meets.
The hunt is known the Albrighton and Woodland Hunt also has a gathering at Hagley Hall, near Stourbridge.
A spokesman for the Albrighton Hunt stressed that the group would be trail hunting, following a scent, and not fox hunting.
"We are expecting between 50-70 horses," he said.
There were 49 horses in the parade through Welshpool.
Among those watching the parade was Montgomeryside MP, Glyn Davies.
He said: "I am not an active huntsman myself, but am a massive supporter of tradition and personal freedom. I only became a full on supporter when the Government banned hunting with dogs."
Labour has announced that it would strengthen the ban against fox hunting by adding jail terms as potential punishment. Labour’s shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman said she wants jail terms on a par with other wildlife crimes.
