SEVERAL hundred people braved the drizzle to support the Avon Vale Hunt meeting in Lacock this morning (Thursday, December 26).

Supporters poured into the National Trust village for the annual event, which attracted up to 50 riders of all ages.

Close to 1,000 people gathered in the High Street outside the Red Lion pub, before the trail hunt riders set off with 37 hounds across the Wiltshire countryside in wet and cloudy conditions.

Joint hunt master Stuart Radbourne was full of praise for all those who turned out to support the event.

“We very look forward to the Boxing Day meet. It has been going on for years and we are very lucky with the turn-out.

“We get, as you see today, lots of people here and it is a highlight of the Christmas period for us.

“Lots of people come and it’s a nice day out for everybody and hopefully it shows the support that we have got moving forward into the future.

“We have probably got about 50 riders here today and we are heading towards the Gastard area from here, across the main road. We will probably be out until 3 or 4 o’clock.”

Mr Radbourne has been involved in the hunt for 19 years and this is his seventh year as joint hunt master.

The riders included three generations of the same family, with Marian Pritchard, 64, from Chippenham, on Micky, accompanied by her daughter Jo Lumb, 41, on Jensen, and grand-daughter Mia Bates, 17, on Charlie.

Captain Spicer founded the Avon Vale Hunt in 1888. It draws its 200 members from a wide area taking in Bath, Beckington and Calne.

The hounds came from Spye Park, near Bromham. The Avon Vale Hunt meets every Tuesday, Saturday and every other Thursday between September and March.

Other hunts meeting today included the Beaufort Hunt at Didmarton, near Badminton; the Royal Artillery Hounds at Chitterne, near Warminster, and the Tedworth Hunt at Bouverie Hall near Pewsey.