Spectators from across Cumbria made the trip to Keswick for the traditional Boxing Day hunt – and so did its opponents.

The Blencathra Foxhounds gathered outside the King’s Arms pub in Keswick Market Place for the trail to begin, led by joint hunt masters Barry Todhunter and Bob Fell.

But as the ceremony began, placard-carrying protesters from Action Against Fox Hunting joined the crowd of spectators, handing out pamphlets and donning fox masks.

Blencathra Foxhounds is a fell pack, meaning they complete the trail on foot, and on Boxing Day they take the dogs on the traditional John Peel hunt where they follow an aniseed trail.

Foxes are no longer hunted after the Hunting Act of 2004 came into force which made it a crime in England and Wales to chase any wild animal. But that did not stop the protesters from picketing the event.

One, who did not want to be named, said they picket because they believe animals are secretly still hunted. Their signs read: “Stop killing our wildlife” and they were calling for a total hunting ban.

They added: “We are the gentle ones, we don’t suffer from blood lust.”

One member, Pamela Laws, said: “I am totally against any form of animal abuse. It is about time we moved into the 21st century.” And the group’s leader Netty Charlton said: “Our aim is to educate people who don’t understand what fox hunting is about these days.”

Chairman of the hunting committee Myles Walker gave a speech to set off proceedings: “The Boxing Day meet is lovely tradition – we have been in existence for two centuries.

“The district is full of history and we are part of that history.”

It was announced that a collection would be gathered after the hunt to raise funds for the kennels at Gate Ghyll, which take care of the hounds.

Spectators loudly cheered the beginning of the hunt as the chairman announced that it had begun.

Former huntsman Donald Scott, 53 from Keswick was amongst the crowd of spectators. “I have followed it since I was 17 years old,” he said.