WHAT a difference 12 months makes.

Last year the icy conditions saw the traditional Boxing Day hunts scaled down – riders and horses were unable to gather in the town centres of Chard, Crewkerne and Ilminster for safety reasons.

But there was no repeat this year with the Cotley Hunt in Chard, the Seavington Hunt in Crewkerne and the Taunton Vale Hunt in Ilminster.

Anti-hunt campaigners staged a small and peaceful protest in Fore Street, Chard, and chanted ‘shame on you’ as the riders moved off. The large masses of hunt supporters greeted that with cheers.