2,000 descend on Penshurst for Boxing Day hunt

AROUND 2,000 people turned out for the annual Boxing Day hunt at Penshurst this year.

Members of the Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent hunt were joined by riders from as far as Haywards Heath and the Isle of Grain who followed the cavalcade of fox hounds which set out from the centre of the village.

Senior master of the hunt Jeff Pegrum said: "We were very pleased with the turnout, it was a lovely day and it has really become a thing to do on Boxing Day.

"These hunts have been happening for the past 200 or 300 years" he added.

A man-made trail of a fox-based scent was laid down for the hounds.

Mr Pegrum said: "We imitate fox hunting as closely as possible while staying within the law."

Mr Pegrum said he was not surprised that hunts had been well attended nationally on Boxing Day, prompting fresh calls for the ban to be revoked.

"The ban was a very badly brought-in law and one would like to think that it will be repealed" he added.