:00:07. > :00:11.Hundreds of people lined the streets of Lewes this morning
:00:12. > :00:16.The colourful event saw horses ridden through the High Street
:00:17. > :00:19.But as ever, it also reignited the heated debate
:00:20. > :00:28.It may be more than 12 years since hunting with dogs was outlawed,
:00:29. > :00:31.but today the Boxing Day hunt meeting at Lewes was
:00:32. > :00:36.Hundreds lining the high street to witness this annual tradition.
:00:37. > :00:40.Good for the farming and hunting community.
:00:41. > :00:46.Just a really great tradition that's been going on for years.
:00:47. > :00:50.There will always be a hunt, no matter what happens.
:00:51. > :00:53.What do you say to the people over there who say it's
:00:54. > :00:59.They cause issues, they keep breeding.
:01:00. > :01:05.The event is one of many across the UK.
:01:06. > :01:09.The Countryside Alliance say around 200,000 people will come out
:01:10. > :01:15.But it also serves to reignite the debate about fox hunting.
:01:16. > :01:18.Would you like to see the Hunting Act repealed?
:01:19. > :01:21.I personally actually don't mind either way.
:01:22. > :01:24.The main thing is that my wife and I, with our children,
:01:25. > :01:27.we get out, we thoroughly enjoy being in the countryside riding.
:01:28. > :01:31.Jumping hedges is what I go out and do and that's
:01:32. > :01:39.Among the spectators, a small pocket of anti-hunt protesters.
:01:40. > :01:43.And despite an occasional scuffle, today's event remained good-natured.
:01:44. > :01:46.I think it's important to be here today, to show
:01:47. > :01:48.that there are people opposed to hunting.
:01:49. > :01:52.Mori polls show that 83% of the population
:01:53. > :01:59.The other thing that the Ipsos Mori polls also show is that locally
:02:00. > :02:03.support for the ban on hunting has also grown.
:02:04. > :02:04.There is literally nowhere in Britain where there
:02:05. > :02:08.is a majority of people calling for a return to hunting.
:02:09. > :02:11.Hunting with hounds may have been long since outlawed.
:02:12. > :02:14.But the spectacle alone of horses, riders and hounds continues
:02:15. > :02:27.There are calls for Medway Council to do more to tackle homelessness,
:02:28. > :02:30.after a rough sleeper was found dead outside a shop doorway in Chatham.
:02:31. > :02:34.The man, in his forties, who has not been named,
:02:35. > :02:37.was found on Christmas Eve outside a shop on the high street.
:02:38. > :02:39.Charity group One Big Family have urged Medway Council
:02:40. > :02:50.A elderly Sussex couple's home was destroyed by a fire
:02:51. > :02:53.on Christmas Day, after they put real candles on their Christmas tree
:02:54. > :02:57.to show their grandchildren a German tradition. West Sussex
:02:58. > :02:59.firefighters were called to the bungalow
:03:00. > :03:02.The children were unharmed, but the couple in their eighties
:03:03. > :03:04.were treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries.
:03:05. > :03:07.West Sussex Fire and Rescue said it was a reminder
:03:08. > :03:12.Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was killed crossing
:03:13. > :03:16.It happened at the crossing in Crossways Boulevard in Dartford
:03:17. > :03:20.The man in his twenties, and from Tyne and Wear,
:03:21. > :03:26.A 22-year-old man and 20-year-old woman from Dartford were arrested
:03:27. > :03:28.on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving,
:03:29. > :03:30.failing to stop at the scene and perverting the course
:03:31. > :03:35.South East Coast ambulance service say they are struggling to respond
:03:36. > :03:42.People are being urged to seek alternative treatment from other
:03:43. > :03:45.health care providers, or use the NHS 111 line for non-life
:03:46. > :03:51.The Bluebell Railway in Sussex has been awarded a grant
:03:52. > :03:57.of more than ?1 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund
:03:58. > :03:58.for essential repairs and creating exhibition space.
:03:59. > :04:00.The tourist attraction operates over 11 miles of track
:04:01. > :04:05.from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead.
:04:06. > :04:08.Football now, and three of our teams were in action this afternoon.
:04:09. > :04:12.In League One, Charlton Athletic beat the MK Dons 1-0,
:04:13. > :04:16.and Gillingham managed a 1-1 draw away to Peterborough.
:04:17. > :04:21.Meanwhile, in League Two, Leyton Orient held off a brave
:04:22. > :04:25.Crawley Town fightback to secure a Boxing Day win - final score 3-2.
:04:26. > :04:28.People across the South East have braved the elements today
:04:29. > :04:33.Some councils had urged swimmers to stay away from beaches
:04:34. > :04:38.But in Kent, hundreds turned out for the festive tradition like this
:04:39. > :04:45.one in Dover organised by the Dover Lifeguard Club.
:04:46. > :04:55.Here is Nina with the weather. Much colder than are very mild Christmas
:04:56. > :05:00.Day. It will continue to get colder in the next few days. High pressure
:05:01. > :05:05.will keep it dry. Clear skies tonight. From then onwards, fog
:05:06. > :05:11.forming. That could -- could become a problem. The rest of this evening
:05:12. > :05:16.and overnight we will see falling temperatures. A widespread frost by
:05:17. > :05:22.first thing tomorrow morning. Temperatures of minus three degrees.
:05:23. > :05:26.A chilly start tomorrow morning. It will quickly clear. Another lovely
:05:27. > :05:32.day with plenty of sunshine. Temperatures will recover to a rant
:05:33. > :05:37.about five to 6 degrees. Milder around the coast. That high pressure
:05:38. > :05:41.is just moving around a little bit midweek. It starts to introduce
:05:42. > :05:45.slightly moister air from northern France. The fog becomes more
:05:46. > :05:53.extensive. It could be fairly stubborn. Overcast skies through the
:05:54. > :06:02.day. A chilly feel on Wednesday. The fine weather lasts onto Thursday.
:06:03. > :06:04.and longer spells of rain over northern isles. By the