The Essex pro-hunting lobby carried the day as hundreds gathered to greet the traditional post-Christmas meet.

Cheers and clapping by a large crowd in Maldon High Street welcomed the Essex Farmers and Union Hunt as it clattered into the Swan Hotel yard for the traditional stirrup cup.

Hardly a dissenting voice was heard - only a few murmured hopes that the hounds wouldn't actually kill anything, accidentally or on purpose, during their New Year's Day chase across farmland east of the town.