Horsemen and women along with the ever-popular hounds met in Brompton, Glaisdale, Lockton and Malton, with hundreds of people turning out to enjoy the spectacle.

But the icy conditions did call a halt to the trails because of concerns over the safety of horses, hounds and riders.

Sarah Morley, of the Derwent Hunt, which met at The Manor in Brompton, said: "We had a good turnout of people – around 300 on foot – even though the weather was poor. I think a lot of them only come to see us, so they were glad to see that we were there.

"It is a tradition that we always meet on Boxing Day and it was nice to see everybody, but then it was disappointing we could not go out trailing afterwards."

An estimated 150 people gathered in the Market Place in Malton where Middleton Hunt assembled before riding into Old Malton where they stopped off at a residential home and The Royal Oak and Wentworth Arms pubs.

Joint master Brian Tarver said: "The number of people attending the square was good. We did not have many horses due to the slippery conditions but there was a lot following on foot. Even though we couldn't go for a ride, we felt duty bound to get the hounds out there."

l The Derwent Hunt will meet at The Hall, Thornton-le-Dale, on New Year's Day at 11am.