Hundreds out for Welsh hunts

Hunting with hounds is due to be banned in February

Hundreds of people have taken part in hunts across Wales, two months before the activity is due to be banned.

The law which will ban hunting with hounds is set to come into force in February, although supporters hope that could be delayed by legal challenges.

The Boxing Day hunt, one of the biggest of the year, is being held on Monday, as hunts are never held on Sundays.

Hunts have been held in areas including Flintshire, Pembrokeshire, Brecon and Carmarthenshire.

Earlier, anti-hunting groups had said they were not planning any protests against Monday's hunts.

In south Wales, people were taking part in the Llangeinor Hunt at Blackmill, near Bridgend, watched by a large crowd of supporters.

We wouldn't seek to break the law but we would try to get around it if we could William Tudor, Llangeinor Hunt

Darren Hughes, from the Countryside Alliance, said: "There are more people here than we've had for many years.

"There are many people who have never hunted before who have come here today."

He added that he was confident that hunting would continue beyond February.

"There are so many holes in the legislation we're comfortable we can continue to hunt within the law," he said.

Showing solidarity

William Tudor, joint master of the Llangeinor Hunt, said he was determined to continue hunting.

"We will definitely be back next year," he said.

"We wouldn't seek to break the law but we would try to get around it if we could."

Spectator Derek George, from Bridgend said the Boxing Day hunt should be preserved.

And Mal Davies, from Cardiff, said hunting was "an essential part of the chain of the countryside".

"I am here to show some solidarity really," he said.