ANTI-BLOOD sports protesters kept their distance during the Hursley Hambledon Hunt's first Yuletide meeting at Stockbridge. Instead of demonstrators waving placards and shouting abuse at huntsmen and women, more than 1,000 supporters thronged the town's High Street to welcome Monday's meeting of the Droxford-based Hursley Hambledon Hunt.

The traditional Boxing Day hunt was held a day late because it fell on Sunday - when hunting is not permitted.

Hursley Hambledon Hunt Supporters Club chairman Victoria Cobden said a lot of people turned out to watch the Boxing Day meet at Stockbridge and another at the Buck's Head in Meonstoke.

"The hunt doesn't normally meet in Stockbridge itself and it was the first Boxing Day meet there. I think the hunt wanted to try it out and there could be more at Stockbridge. There used to be meets in Romsey and Meonstoke but the one in Romsey was banned," said Mrs Cobden.

Romsey's Tadburn ward borough councillor Mark Cooper was behind the axing of Boxing Day hunt meeting's in the town when he was mayor.

Asked about the long-tern future of the hunt with the government's impending ban on foxhunting, Mrs Cobden added: "Nobody will accept the ban. The Conservatives are fully behind us along with Winchester MP Mark Oaten. Everyone is trying to remain positive. This proposed ban could take a long time to fight. Most of our club members are followers and they travel on foot or by car. We have towards 200 supporters but not everyone is a club member."

Hampshire police wildlife officer Dave Turpin said there was huge support from the public at Stockbridge. "The High Street was six to seven people deep with supporters. It was all very light-hearted and amicable," said PC Turpin, who also kept an eye on the hunt at Sherfield English on Wednesday morning. It was feared protesters were going to trying and disrupt the meet at the Hatchet Inn pub but the event passed without incident.

Supporters were collecting cash to put in the hunting fighting fund pot.

Huntsmen and women turned up with children as young as eight or nine and at noon tomorrow the Hursley Hambledon Hunt will be meeting at Bell's Ground in Ampfield for its traditional New Year's Day hunt.

PC Turpin added: "There was a good turnout at Sherfield with probably 20-25 riders and well over 100 spectators - some of the riders were about eight or nine years old. It was good mannered, peaceful and family-based. We were told about this one on Tuesday afternoon. We always attend to make sure there is no nonsense. We've got a year before the Act comes into force and hunts have a year to fight the proposed ban. They are going to fight to carry on hunting."

The hounds made off for numerous hunting grounds in Sherfield English and Wellow after meeting outside the Hatchet Inn.

PC Turpin confirmed the Hursley Hambledon Hunt had permission to hunt on land in the area.

"They got permission from all the landowners. A lot of landowners are careful about letting the hunt on their land because of repercussions. I am always happy to go out and make sure there are not any problems at the hunt meetings. Everyone has got the right to protest but it has to be done peacefully and lawfully," said the officer whose beat covers rural villages around Romsey.

The Hursley Hambledon Hunt meets every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the winter months until the third week of March.