Clashes have reportedly broken out between hunters and protesters during a tense Boxing Day meet in Wiltshire. Video footage shared on social media appeared to show punches being thrown from both sides as mounted riders moved through Lacock village, near Chippenham, for the annual Avon Vale Boxing Day hunt. The Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) has accused hunters of resorting to violence on one of the biggest days in the hunting industry’s calendar. Like many hunts of its kind, the Boxing Day hunt took place on 27 December because this year’s holiday fell on a Sunday, traditionally a day of rest for the hunting community. It is not clear how the fighting broke out or who was involved. Footage showed anti-hunt protesters shouting “shame on you” at a group of riders and in another video, a woman holding a sign is pushed to the ground. Wiltshire police said officers attended the hunt at about 11am after “concerns were raised about tensions between those involved in the hunt and protesters”. They said the two groups were dispersed and no arrests had been made at this stage. A statement from the Avon Vale Hunt said: “The hunt has been made aware of an incident that occurred just after the hounds had left the meet in Lacock today. We do not know the circumstances but we do not condone violence even in the case of extreme provocation by anti-hunting protesters. “We would like to thank the many hundreds of people who peacefully attended today in support of our hounds.” Despite the worsening Covid-19 situation and growing calls to ban the practice on public land, many Boxing Day hunts went ahead this year. Critics are demanding the prohibition on public land of a sport they believe is often merely a front for illegal foxhunting. The Scottish Greens renewed their call for an outright ban on foxhunting in Scotland. An HSA spokesperson said: “Foxhunters’ backs are against the wall and they’re increasingly resorting to violence as the pressure increases.”