THE ban due to come into effect on February 18 is in abeyance until the appeal against the use of the Parliament Act has been heard and adjudicated upon. Meanwhile, we carry on as normal.

Should the ban be imposed, the Ledbury Hunt will continue, but operating within the law. May I make it quite clear that it will be our intention so to do.

I hope the law of the land will be upheld but this Government seems to think that it can ride roughshod in whatever it wishes to do, as and when it so pleases. This attitude is far beyond just hunting. Come the General Election you know what to do, we are heading for a dictatorship.

May I, as chairman and president of Ledbury Hunt, thank all those people who came to support the hunt and hunting. There were 189 mounted and an estimated 6,500-8,000 people who all conducted themselves with the greatest decorum and good manners. The police were extremely helpful in diverting the traffic.

It was wonderful to see so many people mounted when there was no chance of hunting because of frost. Who can say hunting is for toffs when so many are willing to support us. Thank you one and all.

Happy new year, I trust, for one of the greatest sports of all, where thousands can meet and cause no trouble whatsoever.

ARCHIE SMITH-MAXWELL, Upton-upon-Severn.

l Thousands of people turned out to see the Ledbury Hunt.

Picture by Alan Stoddart.