Boxing Day hunts set off amid fresh concerns over future

But the following day's activities are more widely contested, with some arising early for post-Christmas sales or many hitting the hills to walk off the festive feastings.

In Shropshire, one tradition continues to raise debate each year - the hunt.

Boxing Day is one of the main staples in the hunting calendar for hunts in the UK and US.

Over 100 meets took place on Tuesday across England, Wales and Northern Ireland despite opposition from anti-hunting activists.

With traditional fox hunting banned, participants now take part in 'trail hunts' - where packs of dogs follow an artificial scent laid during and in the days before the hunt.

But animal rights campaigners claim this serves as a 'smokescreen' for killing foxes.

In Newport, members from the Albrighton and Woodland Hunt set off from Newport Rugby Club to take part in the annual tradition.

While in Ludlow, campaign group the Countryside Alliance shared a video of dozens of people turning out to see the hunting party off from the castle.

With an election looming, there are concerns among enthusiasts that hunting could again become a battleground.

Labour has already vowed to toughen the Hunting Act if elected, including banning trail hunting.

But Countryside Alliance has urged Labour to abandon any plans to reopen the issue of hunting with new legal reforms.

Chief executive Tim Bonner called on Labour not to bring forward further legislation but instead to "right the wrongs of the past" and end its "running attack on rural communities".

He said: "Rural communities need to see action and that means working with them to better the countryside, rather than attacking those who live and work in it."

The organisation has said that it and the British Hound Sports Association would be ready to oppose any new restrictions.

"Ultimately the countryside doesn't want to have to have a fight over hunting again, but it will not sit back and allow itself to be bullied and become victim to a toxic culture-war," Mr Bonner said.

But shadow environment secretary Steve Reed insisted Labour would "give our countryside its future back".

"The only 'running attack' on the countryside is from this Conservative Government who have abandoned our rural communities," he said.

"The Tories have put up trade barriers and let energy bills skyrocket, crippling our farmers and putting producers out of business.

"They've dismantled public transport, stripped away good local jobs and left workers facing falling pay.

"There is no more visible sign of Tory decline than the rivers across our countryside now swilling with toxic raw sewage."