A CUMBRIAN town's Boxing Day tradition is facing an uncertain future.

Keswick Town Council voted last week to send a letter to the Blencathra Foxhounds asking them not to go ahead with their usual Market Square meet on Boxing Day.

Eight councillors voted to send the letter, while one abstained and one voted against. Two councillors were not present.

The town council does not have any power to prevent the Foxhounds from gathering.

Blencathra Foxhounds traditionally gathers on December 26 to allow supporters and the public to meet the hounds.

Their traditional route takes them on to the town's Mary Hewetson Cottage Hospital, on Crosthwaite Road, for a visit before heading out for a trail on nearby fells with the dogs.

The reputation of Britain’s hunting community was dealt a serious blow after Mark Hankinson, the director of the Masters of the Foxhounds Association, was convicted last month of encouraging others to hide the illegal hunting of live foxes behind a 'smokescreen' of trail hunting.

He was found guilty of encouraging or assisting others to commit an offence over his comments in two webinars in front of an audience of more than 100 MFHA members.

Alan Dunn, Mayor of Keswick, said in a statement read at the Town Council meeting: "Thank you for your proposal that the council write to Blencathra Foxhounds asking them not to attend the Market Square on Boxing Day.

"You appreciate that the Council has no powers to ban the Blencathra hunt from attending, but, as you say, we have the ability to write and to ask them not to attend.

"For the past few years this council has resisted writing said letter for various reasons.

"My own being that it was another lost traditional event.

"Things have changed dramatically since we have last wrote it.

"As you have rightly pointed out, with the conviction of Mark Hankinson and the subsequent suspension of the licence to trail hunt on land owned by the National Trust, the Lake District National Park, the Forestry Commission, United Utilities and others.

"My stance has changed. I am now in favour of the letter as you request that will stay in place while the suspensions remain."

Blencathra Foxhounds refused to comment.