CROWDS have gathered in towns across the county to cheer on Herefordshire's huntsman as groups get together for the traditional Boxing Day meets.

Ledbury Hunt is one of the biggest in Herefordshire and crowds lined the streets to view the spectacle, which has been part of the town's calendar for at least 175 years.

About 80 riders gathered outside the half-timbered coaching inn, the Feathers, before setting off at 10.45am.

David Redvers, the senior joint master of the Ledbury Hunt, spoke to the assembled crowd.

He said: "The hunt and its members are very much a part of the local community. Everyone is welcome to take part whatever their background or standing in society."

The hounds were then taken to Leddington, and the area around Dymock where they found and hunted scent trails that had been laid earlier.

All hunts, including those in Ross-on-Wye, Leominster and Bromyard, must by law follow a preprepared scent trail, because of ban on hunting with dogs.

In Hay-on-Wye, the master of the Golden Valley Hunt is keen to keep the tradition going in the town.

Alex Hill said: "We run the hunt that was established in Hay-on-Wye about 100 years ago, and we've met at the clock tower for the past 75 years.

"It's quite a family event and it is important we keep this countryside tradition going. We comply with the law and within the law.

"Hay is a town that's proud of tradition, it's known as the town of books and the Golden Valley hunt is a tradition we want to keep going.

"I see my role as safeguarding it until I pass it on to someone else."

Meanwhile, in Leominster's Corn Square, crowds joined the North Herefordshire Hunt, but an alternative to the Clifton-on-Teme hunt meet in Bromyard was organised.

Organiser Karen Rock said the 'beat the feast' event on Bromyard Downs offered a family friendly, sociable and upbeat alternative to the hunt, which set off from The Square.

READ MORE: 'Beat the Feast' with Herefordshire Boxing Day hunt meet alternative

In Bromyard, there were more than 20 on horseback for the meet, but they were met with equal numbers of protesters making their views against what they said is a “barbaric” tradition.

Hundreds of supporters we started to arrive in The Square from 10.30am to watch the hunt start around an hour later.

But the protestors stood next to the huntsmen with slogans such as “tradition is no excuse for cruelty” displayed on placards.

Pauline Strong, a former police officer from Hereford, said: “I’m standing here with the people who are like-minded on a peaceful, quiet demonstration so we're not going to be making any noise during this, we’re going to be silent.

“It’s just to show that we don't agree with the parade that goes on and the romanticising of something which is actually quite barbaric.”

Addressing the crowd, huntmaster Robert Heard said: “Thank you for letting us hunt today, all the supporters and support we obviously outrank these ladies and gentlemen (protesters).

“I’d like to say thank you to the Bromyard Downs committee for allowing us to cross the downs. There will also be a dog walk on Bromyard Downs organised by Karen Rock, which will be lovely to see.”

About 50 horses and 200 followers took part in the traditional Radnor and West Herefordshire Hunt meet in Kington.

Senior joint hunt master Robert Jones addressed the crowd from the balcony of the Burton Hotel in Mill Street before the hunt left to follow a trail laid on Hergest Ridge. 

Despite the Boxing Day meets still being a popular occasion in county towns, it will soon be history, a leading national animal welfare charity has said.

The League Against Cruel Sports said even thought legislation being in place to stop animals being hunted in the name of sport, continuous efforts have been made in Westminster to get the Hunting Act 2004 overturned.

"As they parade today in their gaudy finery, fox hunts will be facing the fact that, with their political support gone, hunting is history," said Chris Luffingham, director of campaigns at the charity.

"Their 14-year campaign to repeal the fox hunting ban hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell of success.

"There has been a sea change in the way the fox hunting debate is being framed and with the ban now secure, our emphasis has shifted towards the strengthening of the Hunting Act."

The league has received 184 reports of suspected illegal fox hunting since the season began in late October.

It follows a year in which six fox hunts were convicted under the Hunting Act and Animal Welfare Act.

"To end fox hunting for good, the Hunting Act needs to be strengthened by removing the loopholes and exemptions being exploited by the fox hunts to cover up their brutal activities," he added.

"The introduction of prison sentences for those convicted of fox hunting would help ensure there is a strong deterrent to prevent the deliberate and widespread chasing and killing of foxes."