HUNDREDS of jubilant hunt supporters turned out to welcome horses and hounds as the Worcestershire Hunt held its traditional Boxing Day meet.

Yesterday's gathering in Droitwich was the first high-profile meet of the season following the end of the foot-and-mouth crisis, which has forced the county's packs to suspend hunting for the past 10 months.

Eighty riders took part in the hunt, matching the number of protesters who had gathered outside the town's Raven Hotel calling for the bloodsport to be banned.

Figures from pro-hunt lobby, the Countryside Alliance, said 600 hunt supporters were milling around the hotel car park welcoming the horses as they arrived.

"We were absolutely delighted to be there," said David Palmer, joint master.

"We've all been affected by foot-and-mouth and a good many of us are farmers."

Before they were allowed to ride off, each rider had to sign a form to say they were abiding by the rules set down by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

This was to ensure no one had been in contact with a farm in an infected or at risk area.

"We've got used to the forms now," said Mr Palmer.

The arrival of the horses and hounds into the hotel car park was marked with whistles and shouts from the protesters who had strung up banners, waved placards and hurled paint at the hotel's sign.

"It's madness allowing them to go out in the wake of foot-and-mouth," said Anita Knittel, of the Worcester Animal Rights Coalition.

"Deer hunting is still banned in the south west, but there are five times as many deer as foxes. Why do they let this carry on?"

The hunt set off shortly after 11am, but the sound of the hunting horn was matched with yells of abuse.

"I think the protesters from the top gate must have joined the others," said Bob Brierley, spokesman for the Worcestershire Hunt.

He said the hounds caught one fox on the hunt between Droitwich and Hanbury.