Boxing Day hunts to go ahead despite Covid and calls for ban

Countryside Alliance accuses Labour of anti-rural' policies after party says public land should be hunt-free

A scaled-back Boxing Day trail-hunting programme will go ahead this year despite the worsening Covid situation and growing calls to ban the practice on public land, the Countryside Alliance has said.

The majority of Boxing Day hunts are due to go ahead on 27 December because this year's holiday falls on a Sunday, traditionally a day of rest for the hunting community.