FROZEN ground meant few mounted followers at the Tetcott Hunt's New Year's Day meet at the Tree Inn, Stratton.

But the huge crowd of well over 300 people did not seem too disappointed as they exchanged New Year greetings with each other while mingling among the hounds.

Any disappointment would soon have been forgotten with the warming glasses of mulled wine along with hot snacks kindly provided by Emma and Bob Semple, the pub's licensees.

In a short speech Julian Smeeth, the hunt's chairman, thanked everybody for turning out and apologised for the decision not to allow horses to take part. He felt the huge crowd who gathered was a demonstration of both local interest and indeed support to try and ensure that the long-standing tradition of hunting will never be lost to the countryside.

He wished everybody a happy New Year after which the eagerly awaiting hounds, under the control of scarlet-coated huntsman Lee Peters, set off to the sound of the hunting horn for a day's trail-hunting on foot.

"It was too dangerous to allow horses to take part on the frozen ground, we just couldn't risk any accidents," Mr Peters said later.

"But nevertheless it was very enjoyable to be out and about in the nice weather and a chance to walk off those extra pounds put on during the festive season.

"It was also an opportunity for the foot-followers to get much closer to the hounds and to see them working hard to find the trails laid during the early morning."

So a new year dawns. A year in which many hunts up and down the country will be striving for support to get the Hunting Act, which bans fox hunting with hounds, repealed.

Conservative leader David Cameron has openly stated that such a repeal is planned should his party win the next general election whether this year or next.