THOUSANDS of people from across East Yorkshire turned out to support the region's Boxing Day hunts.

According to William Bethell, senior master of the Holderness Hunt, about 4,000 people flocked to Beverley Westwood to see the spectacle of hounds and horses and to hear the sound of the huntsman's horn.

While taking a break in the day's proceedings, Mr Bethell told the Mail: "The meet was fantastic, we had incredible support.

"About 4,000 people turned up on foot and there's more than 100 horses.

"We were helped by excellent weather, but the turnout was very good."

Hundreds of people also turned out to cheer on the Middleton Hunt, which met on the showground at Driffield.

Hunting foxes with hounds became illegal in 2004.

Now hunts in East Yorkshire ensure they stay within the law by following a pre-laid scent which takes riders across fields and woodland.

But they are currently lobbying for a repeal of the legislation, which many people believe is unworkable.

The League Against Cruel Sports said they would be monitoring hunts across the UK, although it was not clear whether the Holderness meet was one of them.

But, in a statement, the organisation questioned the need for a change in the law.

Douglas Batchelor, chief executive of the body, said: "If hunts are hunting legally, as they claim to be, and attracting record support, why on earth do they want a repeal of the Hunting Act?"