THE sound of hooves clattering along high streets returned to Pershore, Broadway and Chipping Norton for the Boxing Day hunt meets in the towns.

Hundreds of people turned out to cheer the Croome and West Warwickshire Hunt in Pershore.

Joint master, Diana Ralph, said: “We are very pleased with the turn out. We haven’t been on horseback for two years so it’s great to see so many people here.” Speaking to the crowd, Mrs Ralph said they would be hunting within the law and thanked those who had laid the trail.

Clare Saunders was with her children, Kate, aged 10, and Robert, eight, who rode out on their horses Milly and Timmy. She said: “We have come down the last couple of years to support the hunt. The children have been coming all their lives.”

There were about 80 mounted followers of the hunt at the meet in Broad Street which has been held in the town for more than 100 years.

Broadway was also heaving on Boxing Day when hundreds of people descended on the village for the North Cotswold Hunt meet.

Up to 70 mounted followers met at The Kennels in Broad Close for the meet – the first on horseback since 2008 – after the last two years were called off due to snow.

About 6,000 people saw around 80 riders take part in the Heythrop Hunt’s meet in Chipping Norton on the same day.