The Government is set to agree plans to privatise the collection of TV licence fees in a bid to clamp down on people refusing to pay the annual charge.

O'Brien saddled his first point-to-point winner at the start of November.

Companies which have been successful in securing the 27 licence areas that do not require further assessment have been told they will formally be offered those licences later this year.

The Government looks set to formally open its new offshore exploration licensing round next month, with it likely to run until the autumn of 2015.