Defiant Hunt buoyed by huge crowds
HUGE crowds gathered to witness the last legal Boxing Day foxhunting meet in Battle.
Some 120 riders from the East Sussex and Romney Marsh Hunt were greeted with cheers from an estimated 2,000 people thronging the Abbey Green.
The riders and hounds gathered at 11am on Monday before setting off for their annual Christmas hunt.
Battle MP Gregory Barker was among those taking part and he made an impromptu speech to the large crowd who had turned up to see the hunt off.
He vowed to defend the workings of rural life and fight the ban on foxhunting which is due to come into effect in February.
This year's traditional meeting was held on Monday as Boxing Day fell on a Sunday.
Hunt spokesman James Hallett said: "We were immensely honoured to be welcomed to Battle in such fashion by its residents. The atmosphere was really good, and there were no demonstrators at all."
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Weather for St Leonards-on-Sea
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -7 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -5 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
