Politicians in the Catalonia region of Spain are voting on a proposed bullfighting ban.

If the potential ban is approved, the region would become the first in mainland Spain to outlaw the sport.

The effect of a bullfighting ban in Catalonia would be limited as it has only one functioning bullring in Barcelona, where its 15 fights a year do not sell out.

The region's two dominant parties are allowing their members to vote as they please rather than as a representative of the parties beliefs.

Josep Rull, a Convergence and Union spokesman, predicted a close vote and victory for the anti-bullfighting camp. He denied the drive to do away with bullfighting is anti-Spanish, insisting it is simply a case of a society whose values have evolved and likening Catalonia's possible move to Britain outlawing fox hunting with hounds in 2004.