0:00:00 > 0:00:02we are back with the late news at 20 past 9 -
0:00:02 > 0:00:12Goodbye. news at 20 past 9 -
0:00:17 > 0:00:25Good evening, I'm Asad Ahmad.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Illegal hare coursing - where wild hares are chased
0:00:27 > 0:00:29and brutally torn apart by greyhounds and other dogs,
0:00:29 > 0:00:31is taking place just north of London, in Hertfordshire.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34It's why police are scouring the area - while local farmers say
0:00:34 > 0:00:36they face physical threats and violence from
0:00:36 > 0:00:37those taking part.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Here's Sarah Harris.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42On patrol in the heart of the countryside.
0:00:42 > 0:00:48Their mission, to find hunters attacking wild hares with dogs.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Dozens of reports of illegal hare coursing have been made
0:00:50 > 0:00:52to Hertfordshire police in recent weeks.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Officers are determined to put a stop to it.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59As you can see today we have four by four vehicles,
0:00:59 > 0:01:03all terrain vehicles and quad bikes to enable them to be better.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07We also use technology in the form of body worn cameras to capture
0:01:07 > 0:01:10and preserve evidence giving us the best opportunity to put before
0:01:10 > 0:01:15the courts the best evidence possible to achieve an outcome.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18This footage shows hare coursing north of Hertford.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21With so many meets in the winter months, farmers in Hertfordshire
0:01:21 > 0:01:24said they had had enough.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27There is financial damage, there is physical damage to fields.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30But the real damage as I see it and certainly what my colleagues
0:01:30 > 0:01:31experience, is intimidation, threats, we've seen
0:01:31 > 0:01:36physical violence.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39We've had incidents local to me where projectiles have been fired
0:01:39 > 0:01:44through farmers' vehicles' windows, almost injuring them.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47You know, it is the associated intimidation that goes alongside
0:01:47 > 0:01:51hare coursing that is the real problem for us.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Animal rights protesters are campaigning for fines to be
0:01:54 > 0:01:56increased as a deterrent against what they see
0:01:56 > 0:02:00as a barbaric practice.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03It is just incredibly cruel, these hares just suffer just
0:02:03 > 0:02:06indescribable cruelty.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08They are ripped apart.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11And these animals are trained to rip them apart slowly and painfully,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14in such a torturous manner.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Officers are determined to work with local farmers and members
0:02:17 > 0:02:21of the public to bring hare coursing to an end in Hertfordshire.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26Sarah Harris, BBC London News.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31Transport for London has started an investigation -
0:02:31 > 0:02:33into claims by the singer Will Young
0:02:33 > 0:02:35that he was subjected to 'homophobic abuse' by a bus driver.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39He says it happened last month, while driving his car in Fulham.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42TfL has apologised - but the singer wants Mayor
0:02:42 > 0:02:47of London Sadiq Khan himself - to help track down the driver.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50In a week which has seen NHS hospital services come under great
0:02:50 > 0:02:54strain with thousands of operations and appointments cancelled,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58managers at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading -
0:02:58 > 0:03:01say they coped by taking the unusual step of bringing in volunteers from
0:03:01 > 0:03:03St John's Ambulance to help in A&E.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05The First Aiders were deployed on Tuesday, but the Hospital
0:03:05 > 0:03:12says they weren't used to provide clinical care.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Putney MP and Education Secretary, Justine Greening says she's
0:03:15 > 0:03:17committed to closing the gap for reading and writing -
0:03:17 > 0:03:19between children from disadvantaged backgrounds -
0:03:19 > 0:03:23and more affluent children.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Currently, in London, the attainment gap between those
0:03:26 > 0:03:28on Free School Meals and others, is over 10 percent.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31So Ms Greening has announced a network of 'Literacy Centres'
0:03:31 > 0:03:35aimed at helping primary schools - in poorer areas.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Here's Elaine Dunkley.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39Church, cheese.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Can you hear that?
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Closing the inequality gap in classrooms is key to giving every
0:03:44 > 0:03:46child the best start.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Research has shown that five-year-olds who struggle
0:03:49 > 0:03:51with language are six times less likely to reach the expected
0:03:51 > 0:03:54standard in English at the age of 11 than those
0:03:54 > 0:03:57with good language skills.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Today the government has launched literacy hubs,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03backed by £26 million of investment, to improve standards
0:04:03 > 0:04:06in reading and writing.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09The idea, similar to one launched in 2014 for maths,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12will enable high performing schools to share knowledge and resources
0:04:12 > 0:04:16with those in deprived areas.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18This is about investing around the country, bringing together
0:04:18 > 0:04:21teachers and literacy specialists so we can make sure we do even
0:04:21 > 0:04:24better on reading and writing and standards but also that we don't
0:04:24 > 0:04:29see any children falling behind.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Labour says the funding will do nothing to change government
0:04:31 > 0:04:34cuts to school budgets.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39Elaine Dunkley, BBC London News.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40A look at the weather,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43and after a dry night, tomorrow will be bright but very chilly.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Expect clear skies during the day - but the wind chill will
0:04:46 > 0:04:51make it feel very cold.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52That's it.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55Check out our website to see a list of London's most
0:04:55 > 0:04:56affordable commuter towns.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58It might just surprise you.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59I'll be back tomorrow.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04Bye for now.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09Bye for now.