A RECORD number of huntsmen and women gathered in the North-East yesterday for the last Boxing Day meeting before the hunting ban comes into force.

Hunting with hounds will become illegal in England and Wales on February 18, but defiant campaigners vowed that their fight to delay the law coming in would run and run.

The Boxing Day meeting, one of the biggest on the hunting calendar, took place a day later this year, as hunts are never held on Sundays.

Hunters in Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency, in County Durham, sent a defiant message to their MP that they would carry on, regardless of the ban.

Between 60 and 70 members of South Durham Hunt gathered at The Talbot pub, in Bishopton, pledging to return this time next year, even if they have to walk a legal tightrope.

Hunt leader Mark Shotton said: "We cannot disobey English law, but we can hopefully try to get round it and continue as best as we can until we get the ban lifted."

He spoke as the hunt set off to the cheers of followers across the Sedgefield countryside, which is Tony Blair's back yard.

Thomas Blythman, 68, has lived in Bishopton since he was seven and said the hunt had been a tradition as long as he could remember.

He said: "I am all for hunting - it is a shame it has to go."

Brian Sharp, landlord of The Talbot, said he had pictures of the hunt leaving the pub in 1906 and that one had set off from the village every year.

He said: "This is the third Boxing Day we have had the hunt here. To us, it is just a day in the country way of life. It has gone on for years - as long as I can remember - and I believe it will carry on, because they will find some way of exercising their horses and hounds."

Conservative candidate Danny Kreuger, who will fight Mr Blair for his Sedgefield constituency seat next year, joined hunt followers yesterday and addressed riders before they set off.

He said that while he could not encourage people to break the law, he urged them to "bend it until it breaks of its own accord". He also said that, should they get elected, the Tories would reverse the ban.

One of the biggest gatherings in the region was in Lanchester, County Durham, where hundreds of supporters lined the streets to watch more than 60 horses of the Braes of Derwent Hunt set off.

Despite the large number of people at the meeting, there were no anti-hunt groups in attendance.

Hunt chairman Alan Chapman said: "Today's turnout shows politicians of this country how much support we have.

"We will continue to participate in our country activities, and will do so within the law. We will do everything within our powers to let politicians know they are not in keeping with the vast majority of people."

Hunt supporter Maureen Mace, from Lanchester, said: "We pledge to carry on.

"This is just the beginning of the battle. The ban comes into effect on February 18 - and we'll be out the following day.

"We'll not call it hunting, but hound exercising. If the hounds happen to come across a fox, that will be purely an accident."

The impending ban encouraged Neil Graham to attend his first hunt.

He said: "This my first time out following a hunt, but I felt I should be here to show solidarity.

"I think it is just a spiteful act on the Government's part. This is the start of a determined effort to get rid of all field sports."

Frank Nicholson said: "I think it is one of the saddest years the countryside has witnessed in the past 100. It is potentially the end of a tradition that is so deeply ingrained in such a huge swathe of country life that rural life will carry the scars for years to come."

Countryside Alliance spokesman Richard Dodd said large numbers were reported at all hunts in the region and said most people had pledged to return next year despite the ban.