CONTROVERSIAL plans for a hostel in Winchester have been dropped in a bombshell move that has delighted campaigners. The proposal for a hostel on a garage compound off Thurmond Crescent in Stanmore has been widely opposed by local residents mainly because
THE Winchester Festival is reporting record ticket sales for more than 30 events taking place in and around Winchester next month. Appearances by household names including actress Dame Judi Dench, newsreader George Alagiah and film critic Barry Norman
NEW Forest councillors have rejected an attempt to ease the crisis caused by the growing shortage of care home places for the elderly. A multi-million-pound plan to extend the Engleburn Rest Home, New Milton, was defeated by just one vote at a meeting
STEPPING OUT, PHOENIX THEATRE COMPANY, PLAZA THEATRE, ROMSEY THIS is amateur theatre at its best. A strong storyline that allows each actor an opportunity to develop their character is matched by a feel-good factor that had the first night audience spontaneously
UNION bosses are claiming victory after calling off the long-running strike which crippled council services in Southampton. Leaders of the public service union Unison clinched a deal with city council chiefs that has saved 45 jobs and allowances for workers
STAFF at a Hampshire haulage firm are in shock today after one of their vehicles and its driver were involved in a motorway crash that left five people dead. A low-loader from Elliott Sargeant of Rushington was transporting three Scimitar armoured vehicles
LONDON-based American Ria Lina was last night crowned the queen of comedy at the Jongleurs Club in Southampton. Ria took the honours at the Southern Daily Echo-backed Stand & Deliver competition which aimed to find the best new comedy talent in Britain
CRIME figures for the year ended this April show that the Tidworth police section was the safest part of the county with the highest detection rate for crimes. Sgt Paul Oatway told members of Tidworth Parish Council of his pride in his team. This year
HAMPSHIRE police lost more than 50,000 days through staff sickness last year. Latest figures show stress, depression or similar problems accounted for around a quarter of sick days taken by officers and support staff. About the same number of police officer
MORE than 1,200 youngsters from Hampshire and its neighbouring counties were given the time of their lives at Paultons Park yesterday. They were at the Hampshire adventure park - named yesterday as the second most family-friendly adventure park in the
A COOK from Bartlett Residential Home in Ludgershall will be skydiving 10,000 feet to raise money for the famine in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Mrs Yvonne West, of St Nicholas Close, was given the sky jump for her 50th birthday last year by her children. She
ANDOVER Rape Crisis Helpline (ARCH) could be facing closure - but for the help and generosity of Andover Women in Business (AWIB). Each year AWIB chooses a local charity to support. This year the rape crisis helpline was chosen because it is a non-funded
A TOTAL of 124 unsung heroes from 26 organisations across the Andover district were invited to a special presentation lunch where the mayor of Test Valley Cllr Pat West thanked them for their hard work and commitment as volunteers. The event, organised
IN a letter to clergy, clerks to parish councils and head teachers, new mayor of Test Valley Pat West has expressed her desire to meet as many residents as possible. In the letter she wrote: "It has been a great honour for me to be elected mayor of the
A FORMER Tidworth rectory taken over by a Christian care group in February as a centre for young homeless is causing major concern. District councillor Peter Colling told a meeting of the parish council that large groups of young people had been congregating
TIDWORTH is set to stage a festival on 12 July and it's pulling out all the stops to ensure people have a good time. The all-day event will cater for a wide variety of interests. Although it has the backing of lottery funding it aims to make enough money
FIRST class postal services in the Salisbury postcode area, which includes Andover, are among the 20 worst performing in the country for delivering next-day post. Postwatch figures have revealed that the SP postcode area is in joint 11th position along
TEST Valley Mayor, Cllr Pat West, arrived in style at the launch of the fourth Open Art festival at Project Workshops in Quarley on Saturday. She was riding as co-driver in the lead car of a convoy of Ferraris, which started in Romsey before roaring through
DUMBLEDARE, a Dumbledore lookalike, will be visiting the Chantry Centre tomorrow to prepare for the launch of the fifth Harry Potter book - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledare will be highlighting the wealth of merchandise available
THE Andover Little Chef has been chosen to pilot a new menu whichcould lead to a new, multi-million pound refurbishment programme. The new menu will now feature Harry Ramsden's world famous fish and chips, homemade pancakes and Italian stone baked pizzas
ANDOVER'S Tesco Metro was officially re-launched on Monday following a major refurbishment. The store, which first opened its doors in 1995, has been completely revamped and upgraded. On hand to re-open the store were long-serving members of staff. Store
POPULAR gardener and television celebrity Charlie Dimmock officially opened Zouch Primary School's pond and wildlife area on Monday. Charlie was the pupils' first choice for the opening role and the youngsters were thrilled when she accepted their invitation
POSTCODE confusion in Tidworth and Ludgershall is having a knock on effect in Andover claims an Admirals Way resident. After reading the story in last week's Andover Advertiser Clinton Dickie who lives in Napier Walk in Andover contacted the paper to
ANDOVER could get its own cinema in the next five or six years - if the finances and location can be agreed. Questionnaires sent out to members of the public have shown an increasing demand and overwhelming support for the facility and Test Valley Borough
THE victims of notorious burglar Darren Nicholas have spoken of their disbelief after the man who ransacked their home while on probation for a previous burglary spree was spared a jail term. Richard and Cathryn Everitt told the Daily Echo they were "
EASTLEIGH Community Services - an independent charity serving the borough - is 25 years old and is throwing out an invitation to the public to help mark its silver anniversary. Celebrations start on Wednesday, June 25 with a 9am to 4pm open day at ECS
England and Manchester United star Phil Neville has singled out Saints fans for praise and believes the national team should keep touring around the country. Speaking before England's 2-1 win over Slovakia at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium last night
Because of who they are and what they've done Justin Rose and Paul Casey are attracting a lot of interest heading into their United States Open debuts today. Now their task, of course, is not to disappoint. "I think we both have the belief we can be in
John Crawley believes that replacing the Benson & Hedges Cup with the Twenty20 is good news for English cricket. Hampshire captain Crawley won the B & H twice with Lancashire in 1995 and 1996 and won the Gold Award in his and Hampshire's last
HAMPSHIRE scorer Vic Isaacs has enlisted the help of the county's 2nd XI scorer to cope with the "hectic" demands of the Twenty20 Cup. Billed as "twice the action in half the time", the Twenty20 Cup begins life at The Rose Bowl in front of the Sky TV
It's Easton & Martyr Worthy against Paultons in the National Village Championship county final at Cockets Mead on Sunday week. The pair enjoyed easy semi-final wins - Easton beating Bramshaw by seven wickets and Paultons victorious against Dogmersfield
A BURSLEDON mum will be swapping her running shoes for climbing boots in her latest fundraising effort. Last year 38-year-old Katrina Kent made her debut in the London Marathon and raised more than £1,300 for The Foresters' Fund for Children. Now Katrina's
Today's Principal Arrivals: Laura C, general, 0100, 102/3; Alianca Europa, 0300, 204; Pegasus Leader, ro/ro, 0530, 43; Trianon, vehicle, 0630, 34/35; Oriana, cruise ship, 0645, 106; CMA CGM Debussy, container, 0700, 207; Maxim Gorkiy, cruise ship, 1000
Gulf War II soldier Captain James Moulton shot to international fame earlier this year after his heroic actions in Basra. Now home on leave, the 27-year-old is attempting to wind down after the most intense ten weeks of his life... CAPTAIN Courageous,
STAFF and regulars at The King Alfred pub in Winchester have got a bitter taste in their mouths after discovering tourist bosses' plans to chop their namesake from city logos. King Alfred, one of the greatest figures in British history, is best known
TWO men dumped rubbish at a New Forest beauty spot after running out of money to pay tipping fees, a court heard. Anthony Stamp and James Arnold ditched computer equipment and builder's rubble at Avon Heath Country Park, near Ringwood, New Forest magistrates
TALENTED and inspirational - and making a difference in Hampshire. This evening seven of Hampshire's most forward-thinking businesses will be waiting to hear if they are the winner of one of the three Daily Echo-backed award categories at the 2003 Hampshire
IMAGINE a city with "hideous housing developments", "bland office blocks" and "nasty thematic developments". No, we are not talking about Portsmouth - it is the Southampton that we know and love which has been nicknamed the "sewer of the south" in new
DETECTIVES investigating an arson attack on a house full of asylum seekers have arrested a Southampton man. The man is due to be interviewed later today by detectives investigating Operation Ballyforan. Some ten residents of various nationalities were
A GROUP of curry fans proved to be hot stuff in a special fundraiser. Fans of the Indian dish piled into the Gandhi Restaurant in the Eastleigh Swan Centre to raise money for the Jubilee Sailing Trust. The management of the eatery donated half of the
AN elderly woman living in Goodworth Clatford has become the latest victim of a bogus water board official who, police believe is targeting houses in the Andover area. Nothing was stolen in the incident but it's being linked to an incident in which a
TEAMS from Hampshire and Gloucestershire took part in a challenge to create an outfit made from recycled items. Participants from The Scott Centre in Andover were just pipped at the post, finishing runners up in the fashion challenge proposal competition
THE fourth annual Barnardo's charity golf day at the Hampshire Golf Club has raised £3,200. Some 16 teams competed for the Twinings Jubilee Trophy and a selection of wine sponsored by Tesco and the winners were The Truffle Pigs from HSBC. Second place
ANCIENT and modern meet in the music of New Zealand artists Wai, who play at the Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham on Wednesday June 25. Wai, whose name means "water" are native Maoris, whose music combines traditional Maoritanga (Maori culture) with contemporary
ROOKWOOD School's nursery took part in a sponsored big toddle in aid of children's charity Barnardo's. More than 20 'busy bees' and 'ladybirds', aged three and four, toddled half a mile around the school grounds before finishing with well-deserved drinks
A FAREHAM head teacher has been forced to reduce the number of pupils using a support unit for children with learning and social difficulties in a bid to balance the books. Neville Lovett head Neil Dewhurst said that due to funding problems from central
MOTORING giant Ford's party plans to celebrate its 100th anniversary have been thrown into chaos after travellers ruined the football ground they hoped to use. The Swaythling-based company, which has 1,603 employees, has been forced to look elsewhere
One of the Royal Southampton YC's major short-handed offshore events, the Channel Triangle, started off Hill Head on Saturday 7th June. There is a crew limit of a maximum of four people on each boat, and the fleet has seven boats sailing two-handed, six
