Hunters keep Boxing Day tradition alive

London: Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, has by tradition been the best day for hunting.

Last year record numbers turned out in 2005 to show their support for the blood sport, which was banned in February of that year.

A high turnout, possibly reaching 250,000 in total, is expected again with campaigners saying support for the sport is higher than ever.

Countryside Alliance spokesman Tim Bonner said that 314 registered hunts were planning to go out.

Anti-hunt campaigners the League Against Cruel Sports said it did not object to the Boxing Day hunts if they stayed within the law.

A spokeswoman said: "The League does not have a problem with hunts meeting to either drag or trail hunt on Boxing Day, as long as they do not violate the Hunting Act."

Police are expected to attend many of the hunts taking place around the UK.

The 2004 Act made hunting with dogs a criminal offence, although exercising hounds, chasing a scent trail and flushing out foxes to be shot are all still legal.

Loopholes in the law are continually being exploited, such as the exemption which allows the hunting of dogs with a bird of prey.

Meanwhile, animal welfare laws coming into force next year are likely to end the practice of using birds of prey to flush out foxes.