Organisers say that about 1,000 people attended the hunt, which met at Pinford End, roughly 300 up on last year.

Richard Ames, joint master of the hunt, said: "We had record numbers of people. There were lots of people that I have never seen before so lots of new as well as old faces and we had a very nice day line hunting.

"I think this just shows that people are fed up of being pushed about – they are voting with their feet."

Hunts up and down the country had reported record numbers this year, he said.

For the first time, the Boxing Day hunt was not met by hunt protesters.

"The hunt is a spectacle everybody likes to see. It has been a traditional Boxing Day thing since the year dot," said Mr Ames.

"Families like to come out and see the hounds and a bit of pageantry. We had no antis at all, which just made it a very nice pleasant cordial atmosphere. Everybody enjoyed it."

It was the second year the hunt has had to follow new legislation banning fox hunting. Instead, the dogs took part in a simulated hunt, chasing a false trail.

Even so, Mr Ames said hunt protesters had tried to disrupt previous line hunts. Under the law, kills are only allowed by accident and huntsmen have to call the dogs back if they see them chasing a fox.

"I don't think it has happened to us this year," said Mr Ames.

A spokeswoman for the League of Cruel Sports warned against hunters using the scent of real foxes to lay a line hunt, saying this often led to 'accidental' kills.

"If you want to go out on a hunt, then go for it, just don't break the law," said the spokeswoman.

"It is very clear, if you break the law we will be there, we will watching, we will video it and we will prosecute."