Thousands of spectators turned out to see the spectacle of the traditional Oxfordshire hunts on Boxing Day.

Across the country, it was the same story - with more people than ever supporting the sport, despite the ban imposed three years ago on hunting foxes with dogs.

One of the biggest turnouts was at Chipping Norton where the Countryside Alliance claimed 5,000 people came to watch the gathering of the Heythrop Hunt.

The Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase met at Winslow Hall.

An estimated 2,300 people came to watch 170 riders gather in their traditional hunting outfits before they set off.

The Bicester Hunt was again out today using the sanctioned laying of trails for the hounds to follow over a 15-mile course across countryside north of Banbury.

Oxfordshire's other gathering point was at Faringdon for the Boxing Day meet of the Old Berks Hunt.