A TRADITIONAL New Year's Day hunt paraded peacefully along Maldon High Street.

Master of the Hunt Mervyn Clarke said: "It was a very well attended and successful event.

"The hunt has been going through Maldon for nearly 100 years and it was great to see a crowd gathered in the High Street."

More than 60 immaculate riders and 24 hounds took part in the hunt which was led by field master Anne Hull.

Members of the Essex Farmers and Union Hunt went from the Blue Boar Hotel in Maldon to a farm in Mundon.

Fox hunting with hounds was banned in November 2004 under Government legislation.

Mr Clarke said: "We operate within the law. We exercised the hounds and did trail hunting with them following a lure."

He thanked the people of Maldon, especially farmers, for their loyal support.