A LARGE number of people turned out to see a hunt on its first visit to Newent since the early 1990s. 

The Cotswold Vale Farmers’ Hunt has not been to the town since the introduction of the Hunting Act 2004 which made hunting wild animals with dogs illegal. 

Joint master of the hunt, Nathan Golding, told the Boxing Day crowd: “We will be hunting within the the law — trails have been laid and will continue to be laid throughout the day.”

The riders met outside The George in Church Street where they met the public before riding the short distance to the Market House and back through Church Street then out to the surrounding country­side. 

Mr Golding said:  “We’ve not been in Newent for more than 20 years and it really is fantastic to be back again.   

“We have a long history with the town and the earliest recorded meet was at the Market House back in 1950 so we believe. 

“Hopefully we’ll be back next year for the 70th anniversary of the Cotswold Vale Farmers’ Hunt. 

“We’d like to thank The George, the public and staff and the farmers and landowners over whose land we hunt. 

Among those who turned out to see the hunt was Mr Michael Keene of Newent who used to ride with the Cotswold Vale. 

He showed a picture of the hunt outside the Market House in 1950 in which he was one of the riders. 

He said: “It’s excellent (to see the hunt in Newent). There are so many people who have come out to support it.”