Hundreds gather for traditional new year county hunt

A FEW hundred people turned out in Carmarthen on Monday morningto cheer the riders of the traditional new year's county hunt.

The dozen riders of Carmarthenshire Hunt, with their houndsweaving and chasing among the crowd, trotted into Guildhall Squarewhere they were met with applause and cheers.

Hunt master Mike Watts, dressed in a red tunic, doffed his blackriding helmet to the onlookers. His speech was all but drowned outhowever by about 20 anti-hunt protestors who, armed with placards,started singing behind him.

Mr Watts said to the crowd: "I just want to say -- but I can'tget a word in edgeways -- happy new year and to thank you forsupporting …