A HUNT meet in Upton on Christmas Eve, which traditionally attracts hundreds of people, has been moved due to foot and mouth restrictions.

Restrictions on livestock movements in Worcestershire mean the Croome and West Warwickshire Hunt will meet instead at Tyrel House Farm, Hanley Swan, at 11am.

Despite the fact Worcestershire was declared foot and mouth free on October 2, the hunt still faces many restrictions.

"We've been issued a licence by DEFRA to hunt this week and we have maps showing where we can and can't go which are updated daily," said Pat Allen, joint master of the hunt.

"DEFRA has asked us to stay away from Upton because of the foot and mouth outbreaks that happened in Tewkesbury."

She said the people who usually turn out to support the hunt were still invited to do so but that DEFRA had asked that all "foot supporters" keep to paths and roads.

"The farmers are the most important thing in all of this and we take their interests to heart very, very strongly," she said.

The Croome and West Warwickshire Hunt was formed in 1973/74 through the amalgamation of the Croome Hunt, which dates from the 19th Century, and the West Warwickshire Hunt, formed in 1949. The area it covers includes Upton, Malvern, Tewkesbury and Stratford-upon-Avon.

"It's a big patch but we haven't been able to get out and hunt much recently," said Mrs Allen. "Traditionally, we start hunting in September but we've only just received the licence to hunt last week."