26/12/2011 Spotlight

Good evening. Hunt supporters in the south-west are welcoming calls

from the agriculture minister for a date to be set for a vote on

hunting ban. Hundreds turned out for the traditional Boxing Day

meets, confident that they are moving closer to the ban being

lifted. But opponents insist there will not be enough support in

parliament. Our reporter has more. Six years on from the ban and the

hands since this there are still as popular as ever. This hunt say

they're not chasing foxes but assent lead in advance. As usual we

will be hunting within the law today. We have laid many trails of

on the farmer's land. The hunts want the ban repealed and are

confident they will get it. hunting Minister has only this

Christmas reiterated his promise that there will be a free vote on

hunting and when the time is right, we're optimistic that will happen

and we also believe that we will win it. The timing of a vote will

be key. If it is held as it stands, their hopes for a repeal could be

lost for regeneration. Critics say there is no place for hunting in a

civilised society and there are better things for Parliament to be

dealing with. In a time of economic turmoil, surely the government have

better things on their plate than a repeal of the Hunting Act. That

would be hugely unpopular with the majority of the public. The

coallition did say there would be a free vote, the question is when?

Thousands of shoppers have spent a day looking for Boxing Day bargains

and the sale. In Plymouth, Drake Circus was busy

from the early hours with hundreds lining up waiting for the doors to

open. Later there was a steady flow of customers in the major stores

across the south-west. In Truro many bargain hunters braved the

chilly grey conditions despite fears about internet shopping

affecting the high street. We are looking for shirts for our husbands

and shoes. Saw some lovely ones on Saturday, but they didn't have the

size, so we have come back again for another reconnoitre. Hopefully

we will find something at a reasonable price. To the Boxing Day

Sports now, as Plymouth Argyle got their festive period of to a flying

start with a 3-2 win at Bristol Rovers this lunchtime.

They looked a beaten side when Rovers opened up a 2-nil lead, but

Warren Feeney, Nick Chadwick and Ashley Hemmings turned it around in

the Pilgrims favour. Hemmings's goal coming in the third minute of

added time. In League One, Exeter City lost a

3-1 at Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon. Italian striker Marcello

Trotta did the damage with a hat- trick for the hosts. At Huish Park,

Yeovil Town could not break Charlton Athletic's stranglehold at

the top, as South Londoners one of the 3-2. The winner came in

stoppage time. Torquay United ended Swindon town's 15 match unbeaten

run, as they won by a single goal at Plainmoor.

Taiwo Atieno put United ahead in the first half against the inform

Robins. That is the way it stayed as the gulls picked up an important

win to take them to 10th in the two. In rugby, the Cornish pirates

completed a championship double over Plymouth Albion on Christmas

Eve. Full-back Rob Cook scored 20 of

their points in a 33 - 12 victory. Left wing Rhodri McAtee also helped

himself to a couple scores in the closing stages. Albion replied with

a try in each half. Across the region traditional

Boxing Day activities have been taking place in unusually mild

conditions. Here at Teignmouth, 200 hardy souls

ran into the sea in the annual RNLI fancy dress fundraisers. Around

2,000 people lined the sea wall and beach to watch. Even Elvis made an

appearance. Of that is the news - now for the weather. Remaining

mostly cloudy overnight with light mostly cloudy overnight with light

rain in places. A mild with temperatures down to eight Celsius.