THE centuries-old Boxing Day hunt in the New Forest is so popular organisers have had to find a new venue.

After years of staging the event in front of the Balmer Lawn Hotel in Brockenhurst, the New Forest Hounds (NFH) have decided hold the meet on a large expanse of open ground near Lyndhurst.

NFH spokesman Graham Ferris said the new location – Bolton’s Bench – would make it easier to manage the huge crowds.

He said: “We usually get a big attendance at the Boxing Day meet and don’t see why this year should be any different. Hopefully holding the meet at Bolton’s Bench will help us separate the riders and hounds from the people with pushchairs, children and dogs and thus stop them getting all mixed in together.”

The pro-hunt Countryside Alliance says 250,000 people are preparing to support Boxing Day meets across the UK. A survey by the organisation found that more than 80 per cent of registered hunts have retained their supporters and even recruited new ones – despite the decade-old ban on hunting with hounds.

Some 85 per cent of hunts have as many hounds, or more, than they had when the ban came into force almost 11 years ago.

The NFH has survived the change in the law by staging trail-hunting, with hounds chasing an artificial scent.

Dr Ferris added: “We try to make it as realistic as possible and people obviously like it. Most hunts are getting on well, despite the difficulties. A lot of youngsters are coming out with us, which is good.”

Hundreds of spectators are expected to attend the gathering at 10.45am on Saturday. The hunt will move off at 11am.

“For a lot of people seeing the hounds turn out on Boxing Day is part of their Christmas,” said Dr Ferris.

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, added: “After 11 years of the Act, support for hunts is as strong as ever and the Act is mostly used to prosecute poaching offences.”

The Conservatives pledged in their 2005 and 2010 manifestos to offer MPs a free vote on the Act.

But a government attempt to change the law during the summer ended in failure when it became clear that most members still support it in principle.

The RSPCA regards it as a vital piece of animal welfare legislation that ended the “barbaric” practice of using hounds to chase and kill live animals.

A spokesman said: “Eleven years on from the Hunting Act the message is loud and clear. Hunting with dogs is a thing of the past and should stay that way.”