Controversy over hunting with hounds should be a thing of the past, a Vale MP said this week as hundreds of local people turned out to hunt and thousands more to show their support up and down the country.

Peter Luff, MP for Mid Worcestershire, said: "It is time for politicians and others to move on. We have a law in place and that should be the end of the matter."

Of far more importance, he said, was the Animal Welfare Bill which is due to be debated in Parliament in early January.

"The argument over whether a dog should have its tail docked or not provokes just as much if not more controversy," he added.

Members of the Croome and West Warwickshire hunt caught their supporters unawares in Pershore.

Local resident Stan Parr, who photographed the hunt as they passed his Pershore home, said: "It was very strange this year.

"Normally people are lined up along the road to wave to the riders but this year there was no one at all. It was as if no-one knew they were going to be there.

"I don't think there was much actual hunting going on, people were just out to enjoy the ride."

More than 250 hunts across the country held their traditional Boxing Day gatherings, the biggest day in the hunting calendar. Many claimed their largest turnouts and said membership had increased.

They denounced the ban on hunting with hounds which came into effect in February this year but pledged to obey the law while they fought to have the Hunting Act repealed.

Large crowds turned out to support Boxing Day hunts in the north Cotswolds - the first to be held since the hunting ban became law.

Liz Wills, joint master of the Heythrop Hunt, said: "I don't think I would be exaggerating if I said there were over 2,000 people.

"Last year there was wonderful support and this year there was a huge amount of support. It's absolutely marvellous," said Mrs Wills.

The hunt, with an estimated 120 riders, set off from outside the Fox Hotel in Chipping Norton Town Square.

Mrs Wills said the event went very smoothly and there was no trouble.

"I don't think there were any police there at all doing anything. We had our own stewards keeping the traffic flowing," she said.

Among those riding with the hunt were three-day eventer William Fox-Pitt and former Badminton horse trials winner Ginny Elliott.

Sam Butler, joint master of the Warwickshire Hunt, which met for its traditional Boxing Day meet at Upton House near Banbury, said the day was a great success with 1,000 supporters on foot and more than 100 horses.

"It demonstrates that this is a bad piece of legislation, based on prejudice and it will not stand the test of time. The support we had shows that people recognise this," said Mr Butler, who is former chairman of the Countryside Alliance's Campaign for Hunting. "I certainly think there will be Boxing Day hunts in 10 years' time," he added.

The hunt was followed throughout the day by BBC environment correspondent Tom Heap and a camera crew.

The League Against Cruel Sports said it was happy for the hunts to meet as long as they stayed within the law.