Boxing Day hunt meets across East Anglia were outfoxed by the weather today.

But thousands still turned out to greet the hounds, as it emerged 2011 is unlikely to see a repeal of the Hunting Act, which became law in 2005.

Hundreds braved the cold for the Necton-based West Norfolk Foxhounds meet at Fakenham Racecourse.

Field master Peter Wilcox said: 'It's bitterly cold, it's too hard to hunt. The horses wouldn't last five minutes, the hounds' feet would get cut to shreds.

'But what would Boxing Day be without coming out to see the hounds.'

Can politicians run with the fox and hunt with the hounds..? See tomorrow's EDP.