IT is a Boxing Day tradition which continues to draw crowds despite the Hunting Act.

Hunts took place  across the county and  hundreds of spectators  gathered to watch as,  rather than seeking  live quarry, horses  and hounds chased  specially laid scent  trails.

The East Devon  Hunt meet took place  on Saturday at Woodbury Castle, on Woodbury Common.

Spirits were high as  people came to watch  with their children  and dogs, and   cups of  port were passed  around.

Lucy Wastenage, 26,  joint master of the  hunt, who thanked  Clinton Devon Estates  for allowing the hunt  on their land, said:  “It’s fantastic to be out  after the recent frost. It  has been difficult to  get as many horses out  as normal because of  the danger to them.”

At around 11.30am,  the hunt set off and  Barbara Hamer, 82,  from Sidmouth, who  came to watch, said: “I  feel very strongly   about following the  hunt.”

Roma Patten, 60,  from Exmouth, said:  “This is the first time I  have watched the Boxing Day meet here as I  am often away for  Christmas.

 “It is lovely to come  and see what happens  and it helps people to  form their own opinions on the issue of  hunting.

“It is a tradition that  sometimes needs to be  modified, but I don’t  like the idea of it disappearing altogether.  If you lose too much of  your history it is very  sad. People should not  make up their minds  about it until they see  what happens and if it  brings families together like today, then that  is a good thing.”

Since the ban on fox  hunting came into effect in February, 2005,  hunts  follow an artificial scent trail rather  than  one left by a  fox or   stag, which would be  in contravention of the  law.

Chris Stephens, 52,  joint master of the  hunt, from Ide, said:  “It’s great to be out on  the traditional Boxing  Day meet trail hunting.

 “It is a long tradition  and we have been  blessed with lovely  weather. It is icy underfoot so the horse  numbers have been reduced, but we have  made an effort to come  out so the public can  see what it’s all  about.”

Mandy Upfield, 36,  from Northampton,  was visiting her father, Tony Venton,  from Exeter, with her  children, Josh, four,  and Luke, eight, for  the Christmas break.

Tony, 64, said: “It’s  been lovely. The kids  have loved seeing all  the dogs and Josh even  got to sit on one of the  horses. I would like to  see the ban repealed,  to have things back to  the way they were. Everyone has their own  opinions, but it’s a tradition.”