Return of the hunt

WITH the lifting of the foot-and-mouth ban on access to the countryside, the Southdown and Eridge Hunt met in force outside The White Hart in Lewes on Boxing Day.

Several hundred onlookers and supporters, and about 50 anti-Hunt protesters, lined the High Street as some 90 horsemen and women assembled with 15 couples of hounds for their traditional pre-Hunt stirrup-cup.

Hunting officially resumed on December 17, following the granting of permits.

This year s meet was livened up by the presence of a pantomine horse and a fancy-dress fox.

Anti-Hunt demonstrators were voluble but non-violent. But one woman was arrested for a public order offence.

Wendy Peckham, south-east spokesman for the Campaign for Hunting and Council for Hunting Associations, said: 'The traditional Boxing Day meet, following so soon after the resumption of hunting, is a clear signal to both rural and urban Britain that foot-and-mouth could be a thing of the past, and that everyone can look forward to a more prosperous and normal year.

'The support for the Hunt in Lewes was wonderful this year. It only goes to show that legislation to ban fox hunting is bad legislation.

One fox was killed during the ensuing Hunt.