Hundreds of people turned out to cheer on the Boxing Day meet of the Monmouthshire Hunt, which gathered to huge support outside the Angel Hotel in Abergavenny.

Traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s Day hunt meets took place across the country as newly released figures suggest that public opposition to fox hunting remains at an all-time high.

Polling carried out by Ipso MORI commissioned by the League Against Cruel Sports, found opposition to the legalisation of the hunting of foxes, hare and deer remains high across Great Britain, with 85 per centof the public in support of keeping the ban, including 81 per cent of people living in rural areas.

Director of Campaigns for the League Against Cruel Sports, Chris Luffingham, said, ‘With 85 per cent of the public saying they do not want fox hunting made legal again, there has never been a better time to strengthen the Hunting Act and bring an end to the illegal persecution of wildlife still going on under the guise of ‘trail’ hunting.

‘The realities of ‘trail’ hunting have been well and truly exposed this year and the extent to which foxes, hares and deer are still being chased and killed has really shocked people. Time and time again hunts are getting away with circumventing the law and that needs to stop.

‘The Boxing Day hunt parades are portrayed as the celebration of a great tradition with huge public support, but the truth is very different.

“There is nothing to celebrate in the chasing and killing of wildlife in the name of ‘sport’ and the polling figures have shown us, year after year, that the majority of the public clearly do not want hunting made legal again.’