THE Hampshire Hunt attracted a bumper turnout of spectators and foot followers to its annual Boxing Day meet on Monday.

Held on The Butts in Alton, the meet provided a traditional Boxing Day tableau against the backdrop of The French Horn pub and the controversial Butts Bridge, with hounds and horses mingling with the crowd before setting off along Butts Road and under the Victorian railway bridge across which Mid Hants Railway steam trains rattled to create a scene for which Alton is famous.

It was a poignant reminder of a piece of Alton’s heritage which is about to be lost for ever as plans progress to destroy the bridge and replace it with a modern version, opening up the road to allow vehicles to pass more swiflty across of the top of The Butts, as part of the major development dubbed the South Alton Plan.

For more pictures, see next week’s Alton Herald.