Hunt saboteurs tried to disrupt the traditional New Year’s Day in Melton Mowbray today.
A large crowd of hunt supporters turned up to watch members of the Cottesmore Hunt ride out at the town’s Play Close to mark the start of 2020.
However there was also a group of around 50 anti-hunt campaigners who arrived from across the country.
They were carrying placards and some wore masks as they staged a vocal protest.
One observer told LeicestershireLive: “I’ve been coming to the New Year’s Day meet for years and this is the first time there have ever been sabs that I know of.
“There wasn’t any trouble but they were very vocal and they had some really offensive things written on their placards which wasn’t great considering there were so many children there.
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“They were vastly out numbered by the hunt supporters and one the riders left so did they.
“Despite the protest it was still a good day.”
