26/01/2014 BBC Wales Today

Good evening. Around 1,000 people have demonstrated against plans to

centralise specialist maternity services in west Wales. The Health

Minister announced last week that the special care unit at Withybush

Hospital in Haverfordwest would close and the service would be

provided in Carmarthen. Sachin Krishnan reports.

On a wet Sunday morning, the turnout showed the strength of feeling the

issue of specialist babycare at Withybush Hospital has generated.

This week in the news, it many heard what they were dreading. The

maternity unit would be leaving here and move into Carmarthen. Patients

and professionals today joined together to deliver their message.

We believe it should be centralised here. We believe there is a shortage

of funds, we understand that. The people of Carmarthen have good road

access to Swansea and the people at Llanelli who are included in the

health board are included in Swansea so why should we be disadvantaged,

because of that? The health minister insists the plans to centralise the

specialist baby unit in Carmarthen will improve care. Other hospitals

in the health board's area will eventually provide midwife led

services, with a transport system to be developed to transfer emergency

cases to Carmarthen. The scrutiny panel has concluded that it has not

been presented with any additional evidence that leads them to question

been presented with any additional health board's proposals to

been presented with any additional Carmarthen. The plans allow for a

bedding in Carmarthen. The plans allow for a

obstetricians staying on for Carmarthen. The plans allow for a

at Withybush Hospital and a hospital Carmarthen. The plans allow for a

in Aberystwyth. But these protesters say they will fight on and are

applying for a judicial review of these decisions.

There's a call for the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats to explain

what actions have been taken since disciplining one of its assembly

members. William Powell, who represents Mid and West Wales, has

apologised to a young female activist for inappropriate behaviour

in 2011, including touching her knee and putting his hands around her

waist. The party says Mr. Powell was given a formal written warning last

year, but the Welsh Conservatives say an explanation should now be

given about what's been done since that warning.

The Welsh Government is supporting a decision by the UK Government to ban

electronic cigarettes for under-18s. A new law is also being introduced

to give adults who buy cigarettes for children an on-the-spot penalty

of ?50. Ministers here say they're currently considering how similar

legislation could be introduced in Wales.

Scientists in Cardiff are testing an experimental treatment that could

reverse the spread and development of breast cancer. Researchers are

now moving on to clinical and patient trials. The majority of

deaths from cancer are as a result of its spread to organs such as the

liver, brain or lungs. What we've established is that using high-end

computer technology, we've been able to identify a small chemical

compound that could fit in between these two proteins and prevent them

from interacting. So this compound, we think, would make a terrific

potential therapeutic drug. The President of the Welsh Rugby

Players' Association has broadly welcomed the decision of Wales

Captain Sam Warburton to sign a central contract with the WRU. The

deal states Warburton will be loaned out to his current club the Cardiff

Blues. But the regional teams, who remain locked in a dispute with the

Welsh Rugby Union, have previously said they would NOT pick any

centrally contracted players. I think it's a concern with him being

the first person to sign a central contract. I think it's a very

positive story for Welsh rugby to have the national captain here in

Wales. But without knowing where he is going to be playing next season,

in which competitions, how often, it's a worrying position to be in.

But it's a great story. A very strategic move by the Welsh Rugby

Union. And there's more reaction to this

story and a preview of the Six Nations on Scrum V in a few moments

on BBC Two Wales. On to football - Swansea City will

face Everton away in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The Swans came back

from a goal down to win 2-1 at Birmingham yesterday - substitute

Wilfred Bony with both goals. Cardiff City's

Wilfred Bony with both goals. Bolton is home tie against the

holders Wigan - the matches will be holders Wigan - the matches will be

forecast now. We say goodbye

forecast now. from earlier but we've got a cold

night ahead of us. The Met Office have got a yellow warning in place

for ice for part away from the coastline until 10am tomorrow. That

is because we have colder air so blustery showers are likely to fall

as snow on higher ground and sleet or snow on lower ground and you're

likely to have a dusting on the cards in the morning. Temperatures

close to freezing in some parts tonight. Tomorrow, more blustery

showers on the way. They are not likely to fall as snow tomorrow but

still a very windy day. A cold wind, with two bridges struggling to

reach seven or eight. Unsettled all the way through until Thursday, when

things dry up a little but temperatures dip quite

significantly. I'll be back just after 10:15pm.

Hope you can join us then. Enjoy the rest of your evening.

Until then, plenty more news on our website. Bye-bye.

Good evening. will keep going through the nights

tonight and as the air turns colder,

tonight and as the air turns wintry. A mixture of sleet and snow

leaving us with the risk advice. The band of rain has cleared