26/12/2012 BBC News at Ten

A bumper Boxing Day as shoppers across the UK help break records.

Millions flood the stores, with many queueing through the night to

grab the best bargains. He we waited until after Christmas to

come in the sales. I'm going to get him before new wardrobe. I got new

shoes for work and just knew everything. The Conservatives

warned hunt supporters that for now there's little chance of

overturning the ban on hunting with dogs. Thunderbirds are go!

Gerry Anderson, the creator of the iconic television series, has died

Millions of shoppers have flocked to stores across Britain for a

record-breaking Boxing Day sale. Tens of thousands had queued from

the early hours of this morning to make sure they got the best

bargains. Across the UK, the number of shoppers was up more than 20 %

with analysts predicting overall spending of up to �3 billion. But

they've warned that the shopping frenzy won't last. The annual

tradition of the Boxing Day sales is alive and well. As much of a

Christmas ritual for these shoppers as Turkey and tinsel. They queued

from the early hours to be sure of bagging the best bargains. Falling

over each other to get inside this shop in west London. They thronged

to the White Rose Centre in Leeds, too. When the doors opened at 6am.

A got up at 4am, but in the car, drove to Huddersfield, went to the

sale, spent some money there. waited until after Christmas to

come and get the full new wardrobe in the sales. For retailers this is

the most crucial time of year. 4 million people are thought to have

visited the shops today, with even more, 5 million, logging on to find

deals online. In total it is estimated that nearly �3 billion

will have been spent during the Boxing Day sales period. In London,

a tube strike affected many services that despite disruption,

shoppers were undeterred. With such a big increase in turn out

nationally, London's West End saw around a third more people shopping

than on Boxing Day last year. Selfridges on Oxford Street took

�1.5 million in its first hour of trading alone. With the first

purchase two minutes after opening. Number one is always handbags on

Boxing Day. We can guarantee the first item sold will be a handbag.

After that, it tends to be men's and women's shoes and also menswear.

So Scottish shoppers were out in force, too. Princes Street in

Edinburgh doing brisk business. But the British Retail Consortium has

said that spending and the best of period has been acceptable rather

than exceptional. We've seen an awful lot of people fail this year,

like Comet and Clinton Cards. A number of people really hit the

buffers for a variety of reasons. I think 2013 is going to be pretty

difficult as well. Whilst some shops start of their sales some

time ago and some website so massive activity on Christmas Day

itself, there's still an awful lot of affection for the National

Boxing Day or -- Boxing Day shopper from. Hundreds of Boxing Day hunts

have taken place today, but senior Conservatives have admitted they

can't overturn the ban on hunting with dogs in England and Wales but

now because they wouldn't win a parliamentary vote. The environment

secretary, Owen Paterson, said ministers would not be pressing

ahead on plans for a free vote on The Boxing Day hunt. It is a

countryside tradition. What is modern is the way they do it. Since

the BAM, the hounds now follow a scent instead of an animal, but

it's a compromise that hasn't calmed the debate. A lot of hands

have some pretty spiteful activities by the opponents of

hunting, who pursue them were there and go there, making their live

pretty difficult. The law itself isn't entirely clear as to what is

acceptable and what does not. were violent demonstrations against

the hunting ban back in 2005, but it still went ahead. It outlawed

the use of dogs to hunt animals in England and Wales, something

Scotland had already introduced. The coalition agreement promised a

free vote on the issue as soon as parliamentary time was available.

But the issue has proved divisive. An Independent poll out today

suggests most people want the hunting ban to stay. In today's

Daily Telegraph, the Environment This is the Heythrop Hunt in the

heart of the Prime Minister's constituency. It was out in force

today, just one week after this evidence was produced in court. The

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals recorded to hand

breaching the ban. There's a kill. It pleaded guilty and was fined.

The charity spent over �300,000 on this prosecution. A leading

campaign group is also spending huge amounts to clamp down on

illegal activity. We've invested �1 million in recruiting ex-police

officers as undercover investigators, because we've got to

deter them from breaking the law, which is quite widespread in this

country, and also get them in the dock if they do break the law.

hunt members have to get used to it is even if there is an appropriate

time for a free vote, and even if there are enough MPs to overturn

the hunting ban, the government will still have to introduce a

repeal bill, so their hopes of returning to the old days of

hunting on a long way off. The busiest day of the hunting calendar

is over, but the debate over this centuries-old tradition refuses to

go away. The former South African President Nelson Mandela has been

discharged from hospital after a three-week stay. He was being

treated for a lung infection and gallstones. Officials say Mr

Mandela, who is 94, will continue to receive treatment at home in

Johannesburg. The commander of Syria's military police as

defective and joined the uprising against President Assad's

government. Major-General Al-Shalal said to be Syrian army had deviated

from its original mission of protecting the nation and had

turned into gangs of killers. With more weapons and gains on the

battlefield, Syria's rebels have been increasing the pressure on the

government. They are now carving out zones of what they call

liberated territory. And now one of the senior regime official has

defected to the armed opposition. The head of Syria's military police

is one of the most senior officers to join the revolution. Lieutenant

General Al-Shalal said he defected because the army had abandoned its

original mission. Instead of protecting people, he said, the

army had become a murderous, destructive gang responsible for

destroying cities and for massacres. Inside Syria the killing has

continued. These images, filmed by activists, were taken in a village.

It isn't possible to independently verified these pictures. The

opposition says these civilians, including a number of children,

were killed by government bombing. It was the killing of civilians

which General Al-Shalal says proctitis defection. But what does

his move really tell us about the state of the regime? The general

did hold an important military position, but it is important to

remember that the inner core around President Assad remains loyal. For

his closest associates, who include family members, the decision was

made long ago to stand together and fight. For them, defection to the

opposition has never been an option. There is a continuing effort to

find peace. The UN special envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, has been meeting

diplomats in Damascus. He is trying but there are no signs his efforts

will bring an end to the killing. The Prince of Wales has paid

tribute to British forces in Afghanistan, saying they are old

and everlasting debt of gratitude. In a radio message, Prince Charles,

whose son, Harry, is serving in Afghanistan, also had words of

support for relatives back home. With two son is currently serving

in the armed forces, I really do have at least some understanding of

what your loved ones on the home front of going through. They are

clearly missing you deeply, particularly at this time of year.

They are constantly thinking and Good evening. The traditional

Boxing Day King George VI chase at Kempton Park has been won by Long

Run for the second time, ridden by the amateur jockey, Sam Waley-Cohen.

There was a thrilling end to the race with a photo finish needed to

separate the 15-8 favourite from Captain Chris. Even though he has

retired, Kauto Star still comes in first. A special place in the

parade ring for the five times King George Champion, a horse worth

standing in the drizzle for. Kauto Star's public appeal may be

irreplaceable, but his absence created an opportunity at Kempton,

especially for Long Run, the favourite. A horse with his own

strong history. He suddenly had unexpected company. Captain Chris,

the 16-1 outsider, seemed to have the edge as they cleared the last.

Three miles through the mud and the jockeys were still asking their

horses for more. Richard Johnson, in blue, was found to have over

used his whip on captain Chris and will serve a BAM. It was Sam Waley-

Cohen who got to the line first. A supreme test of stamina decided in

the final strides. That is why they come racing on Boxing Day. Match of

the Day is on BBC One at 10.25pm tonight so please pop out of the

room now if you don't want to know the Barclays Premier League results.

There was a highly entertaining seven goal encounter at Old

Trafford with Sir Alex Ferguson praising Manchester United's

courage after coming from behind again to beat Newcastle 4-3. Robin

van Persie and Javier Hernandez were amongst the goal scorers. At

the halfway point in the season, United are seven points clear at

the top. A delighted Gareth Bale scored his first Premier League

hat-trick to help Tottenham to a 4- 0 victory over Aston Villa. The win

moves Spurs into fourth place while Villa have now conceded 12 goals in

In the day's other games, second- placed Manchester City missed the

chance to reduce United's lead. They lost to Sunderland 1-0. There

were wins for Everton, Chelsea and Stoke. QPR are bottom of the table

after defeat to West Bromwich And in the Scottish Premier League,

Neil Lennon's Celtic are seven points ahead of second placed

Inverness Caledonian Thistle after Giorgios Samaras and Gary Hooper

scored in each half of their game against bottom of the table Dundee

to secure a 2-0 victory. That is all. The creator of Thunderbirds,

Gerry Anderson, has died at the age of 83. The children's television

classic and sci-fi hit film on a trading estate in Slough, was first

brought to our screens in 1965. Gerry Anderson also created

stingray and captain Scarlet. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's

disease. Thunderbirds are go! Thunderbirds, the most famous and

successful of Gerry Anderson's Popat extravaganza us. He and his

second wife, Sylvia, began programme Rick -- programme-making

in the late 1950s. But when it -- when he combined science fiction

with ground-breaking PUP agreed that he made his most enduring

creations. All long before computers were used in making TV or

movies. Instead, his revolutionary technique used intricate be

constructed puppets. But Thunderbirds pilot so excited media

mogul Lew Grade that he commissioned an unheard-of 32 one-

hour programmes. He said, Gerry, this is not a television series. Of

course, my little world collapsed. I thought, this is the end. Then he

walked all the way up to me and said, this is a feature film!

underwater submarine adventure Sting Ray was the first ever

Britain -- children's television series to be filmed in colour. The

indestructible Captain Scarlett featured more realistic poppets and

darker situations. While Joe 90 was the last of his series to be made

purely with the Supermarionation puppet technique. But throughout

his life at one character remained closest to his heart. My favourite

character was Parker. We are closing in on him. He will be

remembered as a man who series entertained adults and children

alike, using puppets which may have been mechanical but which still