PROTESTERS and supporters alike braved icy winter weather to attend traditional Boxing Day foxhunts across Hamp-shire yesterday.

Emotions ran high with angry words exchanged at three annual meets but police said there were no major incidents and no one had to be arrested.

Dozens of people turned up at the New Forest Foxhounds hunt at Balmer Lawn, Brockenhurst, where members of the New Forest Animal Protection Group staged a demonstration.

Scores more demonstrators armed with banners and placards attended the annual Hursley and Hambledon Hunt at Meonstoke, where two protesters ran into the middle of the road in a bid to delay the start of the meeting.

A third meet took place at Herriard near Basingstoke, organised by the Hampshire Hunt, but no one was injured in any demonstrations.

Across the country, an estimated 300,000 people attended hunts - just a week after MPs backed a Bill paving the way for criminalising foxhunting.

The Countryside Alliance is battling against the controversial measure and has arranged a huge protest through London in March.

The highly controversial measure to outlaw the traditional rural sport cleared its first Commons hurdle when MPs gave it a second reading by 373 votes to 158.

But Home Secretary Jack Straw offered the hunters a glimmer of hope that the government might be prepared to back down in the row, when he came out firmly against an outright ban, declaring his support for a compromise.

But the Countryside Alliance is encouraging members and supporters to "keep your nerve" despite the threat and is continuing its pressure.

A huge protest is planned for March 18 in London.