A hunting we will go! (From Western Telegraph)

A hunting we will go!

Fox hunts have vowed to continue to meet in the Pembrokeshire countryside but insist they will stay within the law.

The Pembrokeshire and South Pembrokeshire Hunts had some of the biggest midweek turnouts in their history when they gathered on Thursday, just hours before the hunting ban came into force.

The South Pembrokeshire Hunt never usually meets on a Thursday but had altered its schedule to be out on the final day.

At Cresswell Quay, 78 riders of all ages turned out, watched by a crowd of over 200 people.

Hunt chairman Peter Williams has been associated with hunting for over 50 years. He never thought he would see the day when it would be outlawed.

"It is a very sad day, but we will carry on legally until we can hunt properly and lawfully again, because we are law abiding members of society,'' he said.

"We have assured the local police that we will be hunting in accordance with the terms of the law. We will be perfectly open about our activities.''

Although the campaign group, the Countryside Alliance, has said about 50,000 people are prepared to break the ban and continue hunting 'in the full knowledge they will be arrested', the masters of Pembrokeshire's two hunts have insisted that members remain within the law.

Both hunts met again on Saturday to exercise the hounds.

The South Pembrokeshire Hunt had imported artificial fox scent from America to lay a trail for the hounds for the meet at Cresselly House.

"The Hunt has been meeting since 1789 and we are not going to stop now. We are determined to keep up the support in the community and the social structure of the hunt,'' said its joint master, James Andrews.