Up to 60 people turned out on horse back for a pre New Year East Essex Hunt meet.

The hunt met at Dynes Hall, Great Maplestead, yesterday and enjoyed a glass of port before setting off at about 10.45am.

It was an overcast day, during which they spent about five hours covering the Dynes Hall estate as well as surrounding farmland.

The 15 hounds followed a false fox scent which had been laid by dragging a piece of rag over the ground.

Stephen Norris, huntmaster, said: “It was lovely to see so many children out enjoying the countryside.

“We had a high percentage of them on horseback."