FOX hunters were greeted with shouts of "scum" and "sicko" from protesters as they arrived at the Tredegar Arms in Bassaleg yesterday.

The Tredegar Farmers Hunt, now merged with the Gelligaer Hunt because of falling numbers, has met at the pub every Boxing Day for about 40 years, but yesterday they were simply there to make a point.

Darren Hughes, of the Countryside Alliance in Wales, said: "They just want to show today that they are not going to stop now because of the protesters. Their next hunt will probably be next Saturday.

"They haven't been able to hunt since February because of the foot and mouth and the Farmers Union of Wales has reported seeing a lot more foxes since the hunt was stopped.

"Sir Paul McCartney and Twiggy may be against hunting, but statistics show only 30 per cent of vets support a ban."

But protesters were strong in their opposition; both veterans and first-timers. Vicki Watkins, spokeswoman for Friends of Animals Under Abuse (FAUNA), said: "There is no argument nowadays; killing animals for fun is completely wrong. "We want hunting banned and we want it banned now."

Vicki Watkins, who is originally from Newport, said: "I've been campaigning against hunts for 20 years and regularly come here. They have got to listen to public opinion. In a civilised society there is no room for cruelty to animals."

Ralph Cook, chairman of Wales Alliance Against Cruel Sports, said the protests were always peaceful.

"We know the hunt will go on, but the point of this is to remind the public this activity takes place every year on this day and that it's only a small part of the hunting season. "We just want to show the opposition is still here and will be here until the government decides to offer Parliament a chance to ban it properly."

Karen Rogers, from Griffithstown, Pontypool, joined the protesters for the first time with her five-year-old daughter Mica.

Ms Rogers said: "I've supported the League Against Cruel Sports for about three years and Mica understands why we are here.

"We've got foxes at the back of our garden and she gets upset when she sees what happens to them in hunts on television."

Zoe Jackson, aged 22, from Cardiff, said she had her membership of the League Against Cruel Sports for her Christmas present.

"I just don't think they realise the devastation they are causing. It is cruel and barbaric behaviour."

*PICTURED: The Monmouthshire Hunt in Abergavenny yesterday.