Dozens of young riders braved driving rain at the annual Berkeley Hunt children's meet.

Around 80 youngsters from as young as four to 16-years-old followed the hounds from Frampton Court in Frampton-on-Severn, near Stroud yesterday.

"Lots of children were being led – the full hunt staff were out to assist," said Berkeley secretary Tom Whittaker.

A crowd of foot followers including Berkeley Hunt Supporters members watched as the pack moved off from Frampton Court.

Berkeley Hunt, based at the kennels in Berkeley, follows a scent trail laid by hunt staff since the controversial ban on fox hunting.

The oldest pack of hounds in the county, The Berkeley can be traced back to the 12th century.

The Berkeley hounds are one of very few in the country that are still family owned and today remain the property of John Berkeley of Berkeley Castle.

Earlier, the Berkeley Hunt itself met for its annual hunt breakfast at the Tudor Arms in Slimbridge on Christmas Eve, before the riders moved off for their day sport.