AROUND 3,500 people flocked to watch the traditional Berkeley Hunt holiday meet.

The crowd braved the cold weather on Boxing Day to watch the hunt riders and hounds when they assembled in Thornbury.

Hunt master Henry Berkeley said he was delighted by the turnout.

"We had only about 40 mounted people this year and because the ground was so hard, we didn't go hunting after the meet," Mr Berkeley said.

"It was just a pity about the weather," he said.

Hunt members completed several laps of Thornbury for the spectators and members of the public met the Berkeley foxhounds.

The Berkeley is committed to the repeal of the ban on hunting with dogs.

Mr Berkeley, after whose family the hunt is named, publicly burned the hunting bill before the ban became law.