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Hunt success despite Market Square plans being shelved
RETFORD'S historic Boxing Day hunt attracted a large crowd of onlookers – despite organisers deciding to pull out of plans to start the event in the town centre.
The Grove and Rufford Hunt had applied to Bassetlaw Council for the hunt to congregate in the Market Square for the first time in 25 years.
But despite councillors giving the go-ahead police had concerns over the safety of the public and put a price tag of 1,600 to pay for the increased police presence.
This prompted the organisers to change their plans and leave from a private field opposite Retford Football Club.
And although one of the reasons for police caution was the risk of saboteurs, the event went off without any problems.
"The hunt passed with absolutely no problems," said Chf Insp Glenn Harper, of Bassetlaw police. "There was a discreet police presence in case of trouble but nothing happened."
"Intelligence had suggested that there could be problems from saboteurs. This is what made us cautious over the hunt congregating in the Market Square."
Hundreds of spectators turned up to watch the hunt meet, which set out from a private field on Leverton Road.
Since the 2004 hunting ban the group has followed an artificial fox-based scent instead of hunting wild animals.
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Weather for Worksop
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
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