THE largest pack of foxhounds ever seen in Britain went on parade at the Great Yorkshire Show - while their masters urged hunt supporters to give them a cheer which would be heard in Parliament.

Of Yorkshire's 20 hunts, 16 rode into the show's Main Ring yesterday.

After entering separately, each hunt merged and circled the ring to rapturous applause from hundreds of spectators. The pack of 334 hounds accompanied by hunt staff, is thought to surpass the size of any other gathering.

John Haigh, Yorkshire spokesman for the Countryside Alliance, said: "Yorkshire's hunting community is most grateful to the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for its continuing support of hunting and for hosting this truly tremendous cavalcade of hounds.

"Parliament should legislate to deal with activities which cause harm, not activities which certain people, for their own subjective reasons, dislike."

The hunts were invited to parade in the Main Ring to mark the end of this year's Great Yorkshire Show, the 50th to be held in the Harrogate.

It also demonstrated the long-standing support for hunting shown by the show.

The crowd of spectators was urged: "If you support the civil rights of people to be free to hunt if they choose, please show that support by giving these packs of hounds a cheer that can be heard in Parliament."

PICTURE: Paul Jackson and Gentry, of the Ampleforth Beagles, which is involved in beagling for hares Picture: Richard Doughty