EAST Devon's traditional Boxing Day hunt was called off due to ice.

But that didn't stop scores of hunt enthusiasts gathering in East Devon yesterday.

Mike Hext, 43, joint master of the East Devon Hunt, said he could not remember the Boxing Day event being cancelled before.

He said: "It's far too slippery for horses to be out, and the roads are too icy and dangerous for people to follow the hunt.

"It's disappointing to not go out. We hunt two days a week – although we haven't for nearly two weeks because of the conditions – but the Boxing Day event is special because it's a tradition that's been going for 120 years.

"But the safety of the followers, staff and hounds is paramount."

A crowd of around 80 people turned up at Woodbury Castle to support the East Devon Hunt.

The 37 foxhounds, which belong to the hunt committee and live in kennels in Dulford, near Cullompton, were given the exercise of walking a mile-and-a-half back to their lorry.

Mr Hext, from Sidmouth, said: "Normally, 20 per cent of the people here would be from East Devon Hunt, and 80 per cent would be supporters, but today it's 50-50.

"If the weather was better, we'd have 60 to 70 horses and 300 foot followers.

"We'd normally have coaches coming from the hotels in Sidmouth.

"We'd normally go out for about four hours, and cover 25 to 40 square miles."

Since the Hunting Act came into force, the East Devon Hunt has been meeting for trail hunts, which involve using dogs to hunt a trail laid with a scented rag.

Joint master of the hunt Lucy Wastenage, a farmer from Budleigh Salterton, said that although membership had risen since the fox hunting ban, trail hunting was not what the group wanted to be doing.

"Hopefully, when the repeal comes into effect, we can carry on as before," said Miss Wastenage.

"As it's a coalition government, it probably won't come forward as early as it would otherwise, and there are a lot of issues to take precedence, but we're confident the Hunting Act will be repealed in the next few years, during this government's term."

Hunt supporter Roger Calcraft, 56, a farmer from Aylesbeare, also called for the law to be repealed.

He said: "I'm disappointed the hunt isn't on.

"It's a nice day out in the countryside, though trail hunting isn't the same as fox hunting."

Toby Thatcher, 36, an electrician from County Durham, went to support the hunt during a visit to his family in Ottery St Mary, where he lived until 10 years ago.

He said: "I like watching the hounds work. The teamwork between man and beast is the magic for me.

"I'm disappointed the hunt's not on but I'm here to show support and catch up with some familiar faces."