HUNDREDS flocked to The Butts in Alton for the Hampshire Hunt's Boxing Day meet.

Held by permission of Alton Town Council, hounds and riders arrived in the sunshine at around 10.45am, trotting at a smart pace along Whitedown Lane, to be welcomed on the green by all ages.

Led by master-in-charge Peregrine Rowse, they enjoyed a stirrup cup and meet-and-greet session, before heading off for the woods around Bentworth Lodge, for a drag hunt, expected to include a good variety of jumps, attractive in particular to the younger riders on their ponies.

The HH meet was typical of others across the UK which, according to the Countryside Alliance, attracted thousands to the biggest day of the hunting calendar.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.