Taunton Vale Harriers met at the Catherine Wheel, Hemyock, as it joined hunts across the country staging traditional Boxing Day meets.

Twenty-two riders turned out and about 300 supporters greeted them in The Square, with food and drinks served in the pub.

First whip Paul Redwood said a rider headed off about an hour before the hunt started, dragging a smelly rag to provide a scent for the hounds to follow.

The hunt has about 100 dogs and 30-40 are taken out a time.

Mr Redwood said: “Our pack is the oldest pack of harriers in the country with written records going back 400 years.

“Harriers are not foxhounds – they were originally bred to hunt hares. That is why we ride in green jackets – hunts with foxhounds ride in bright red jackets.

“Our hounds are smaller than a foxhound and ever so fast, and are all light in colour.”

Mr Redwood added: “Huntsman are normally in the saddle about six hours and you have to have a really fit horse. We jump five-bar gates, hedges everything. The hounds are so quick and we can’t afford to lose the pack.”

Taunton Vale Harriers meets on Mondays and Thursdays, and some Saturdays during the season, which starts at the end of October and goes on until April.