HUNDREDS of people packed the centre of Wiveliscombe on Boxing Day morning for the traditional festive meet of Taunton Vale Harriers.

It was the only Boxing Day meet this year in the West Somerset and Wellington area and drew a large crowd of adults and children.

The Harriers met in The Square before setting off on a trail hunt, where hounds follow a scent along a pre-laid route.

Harriers chairman Rosie Payne was ‘proud’ to continue the hunting calendar tradition.

Wiveliscombe’s meet is a legacy of the former Chipstable Hunt and ‘legendary’ Michael Roffe-Silvester’s hounds.

The only other Somerset meets this year were in Chard, Crewkerne, Somerton, and Priddy near Wells, some of which were attended by even larger crowds.

A Countryside Alliance spokesperson said: “Large crowds gathering on Boxing Day are familiar scenes which are an essential part of the hunting year, enabling hunts to demonstrate the important part they continue to play within local communities.”