Hundreds of cheering and clapping hunt supporters made it a Boxing Day hunt to remember in Tiverton.

The bumper crowd was a far hunting cry from last year when the severe weather curtailed much activity for the red-coated set, with horses being kept in their stables by the treacherous weather – although the hounds were in full cry.

But this time round the weather was unseasonably mild, a factor in bringing out more than 300 people to Tiverton Pannier Market to see the traditional scene that started off from the Half Moon pub.

Led by hunt master Kelvin Thomas, the Tiverton Foxhounds horses and hounds set off at 11am, taking of an easy route along Fore Street – and more cheering spectators – before heading off in to the Mid Devon countryside for a day’s sport.

Mr Thomas said: “We have had two or three years of really bad conditions and we have struggled, but it is lovely to come in on a perfect day – I am really very pleased.”

Town councillor Lewis Clarke, who has been a spectator of the meet for over 20 years, and took these pictures, said: “It was good to see the community come together in numbers at events like this, it shows what Tiverton is all about.

“The children enjoy seeing the hounds and horses, who are all very friendly and it is a great spectacle to see them galloping through the town centre.”

The Boxing Day hunt is the traditionally the biggest meeting in the hunting calendar.

It was the seventh year since the Hunting Act was passed, which outlawed the hunting of wild animals with hounds.

The act means hunts must not set out to deliberately chase animals.

Jim Paice MP, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food with responsibility for hunting, recently visited the kennels of a hunt to show his support.

The minister said: “I personally am in favour of hunting with dogs – and the coalition agreement clearly states that we will have a free vote on whether to repeal the act when there is time in the Parliamentary calendar to do so.”

Pro-hunt campaigners say they are hoping that the controversial act will soon be repealed.

They estimated that more than 250,000 people turned out to over 300 hunts across the UK. Anti-hunt protests were minimal.

Alice Barnard, of the Countryside Alliance, said: “It is a point of pride for rural communities across Britain that, despite the prejudice and ignorance of some, hunting remains as strong as ever.

“This Boxing Day up to a quarter of a million people came out in support of their local hunt.

“Added to this, the visit of the hunting minister to a hunt kennels is a very welcome and strong show of support from this Government.

“The Countryside Alliance is delighted to be in such a strong position to push for the repeal of the expensive and failed Hunting Act.”