CENTURIES of hunting tradition returned to Maldon High Street on New Year's Day as crowds lined the pavements to watch the assembled gathering.

The Essex Farmers and Union Hunt paraded through the town street with a traditional welcome at the 14th century Blue Boar Hotel.

The 45 riders then took off to the Mundon area to continue the hunt with their hounds following a scent while obeying the ban on fox-hunting.

Joint hunt master Anne Hull said: "We really had lots of support and it was a very lovely day. We had about 45 horses but it was very icy and a lot of people didn't come out."

The hunt was formed in 1984 from the amalgamation of the Essex Farmers and Essex Union Hunts. The Essex Union originated from Lord Petre's Hunt in 1822.

See full story in this week's paper.