MORE than 100 people joined Coniston Fox Hounds for the Troutbeck Mayor's Hunt last Saturday.

The event has been a tradition in the village for more than 200 years and followed the ceremony to appoint Troutbeck's new mayor, Trish Wilson, the previous day.

Mrs Wilson joined the hunt and its supporters as they made their way around the Troutbeck Tongue before presenting the prizes for the champion terrier and walking stick after the hunt.

Joint master of the Coniston Fox Hounds, and member of the Troutbeck Mayor's Hunt committee, Doreen Westmorland, described the day as "very successful."

But she added that the recent ban on hunting with dogs meant that the atmosphere of the traditional event had changed.

Instead of chasing a fox, the hunt left its usual starting point at the Queen's Head, Troutbeck, and exercised the hounds, finishing back at the pub in the afternoon for the terrier and stick competition and a "sing song."

"Everyone had a very nice walk and it was a gorgeous day," said Mrs Westmorland.