HUNT supporters in Selkirk have hailed the return of an age-old tradition on New Year’s Day.

And they are hopeful the biennial visit from the Buccleuch hounds and horses has now been revived.

Around 40 mounted followers of the Buccleuch Hunt gathered in the Market Square last Thursday for the first time in seven years.

Despite the poor weather more than 200 well-wishers also turned out for the New Year’s Day spectacle.

And to also raise their glasses in a traditional toast.

The decision by Selkirk Community Council during the summer to rekindle the town’s relationship with the hunt had sparked anger with animal cruelty campaigners.

And many of its members received threatening correspondence from around the country.

Graham Easton, chair of Selkirk Community Council, said: “We had a low-key build up to the hunt coming back and it all passed off very peacefully.

“The weather was poor but the day itself was a great success.

“The hunt is a traditional aspect of the Borders countryside and we believe it is important to uphold these traditions.

“We have been speaking to the Buccleuch Hunt and we are confident that the New Year’s Day visit can once again be a regular event in Selkirk.” Founded in 1827 the Buccleuch Hunt has regularly met in Selkirk as well as several other Borders towns for almost two centuries The tradition of meeting in Selkirk and Kelso on alternate New Year’s Days continued up until the mid 1990s.

The invitation from community leaders in Kelso continued but, apart from a one-off return to the Royal Burgh in 2008, the connection with Selkirk had been lost.

Tim Allan, Master of the Buccleuch Hunt, believes the biennial tradition has now been rekindled.

He said: “We received a great welcome in Selkirk and we would love to get back to coming every second New Year’s Day.

“Selkirk Market Square isn’t all that big so we had about the right number of horses to fill it.

“The weather was poor - it was wet and blustery - but there was still a good crowd and the day’s hunting was good as well.

“We look forward to the invitation for 2017, hopefully it won’t be so windy.”