SOUTHAMPTON-based Britt Allcroft Company, the media group behind children's favourite Thomas the Tank Engine, is in talks about a possible offer. "The company is reviewing a number of strategic options to maximise shareholder value. One of these options
WORK on the £1 million revamp of Southampton's shopping centre was due to start today. City leader councillor June Bridle and commercial director of West Quay, Colin Campbell, will take to the streets with a sledgehammer to smash the first paving stones
IT COULD have come straight from the script of TV comedy Ballykissangel. Strange goings-on in a normally uneventful Catholic parish have set tongues wagging and even prompted talk of divine intervention. Two sets of life-size figures of Joseph, Mary and
HUNDREDS of commuters were delayed by a pile-up which brought traffic chaos to one of the main routes out of the New Forest this morning. The four-vehicle crash caused huge delays on the eastbound carriageway of the A31 near Cadnam just after 6.30am.
THE seeds of the current building were sown in 1897 when the council began searching for offices and a council chamber as the volume of work increased. Land at the western edge of the town recreation ground was earmarked and the contract for the municipal
NICK WEAL celebrated his 100th Girobank Tour event with a win in Southampton on Saturday - with a little helping Hand. Weal brushed aside former Davis Cup player Nick Gould (Avon) in the final, thankful it was not the top seed he had to play. It was Weal's
A sparkling first-half display formed the basis of Romsey's comfortable 43-14 Hamp-shire League 1 victory over New Milton. The improvement in Romsey's play since Brian Musk took over as coach is remarkable and the team produced some tremendous running
NEWPORT'S Eastern Divison pro-motion ambitions were dented with a 2-1 defeat at Wisbech, leaving angry manager Tony Mount to reflect: "We got exactly what we deserved from the game - nothing." Mount was furious with his side's lack of application and
Dave Jones may have been the victim of commercial pressure from the German banks financing Saints' new stadium at St Mary's. That is now emerging as a principle reason behind the club's shock decision to hand Jones an enforced year's paid leave of absence
TRIUMPHANT Tories on Fareham Borough Council say they are well on the way to overcoming a £2.2 million deficit left by the former Lib Dem/Labour-led council - but an opposition leader claims the deficit doesn't even exist. Members of the policy and resources
In Port Today's Southampton arrivals: Shanghai Express, container, 0630, 207; Fidelio, vehicle carrier, 0930, 34/35; Kahloun, general, 1000, 36; Regal Star, refrigerat, AM, 101W; Angela J, container, 2030, 204W; Danube, container, 2100, 205; Hockenheim
Travel Pound Australia 2.41 dollars Austria 21.83 schillings Belgium 63.99 francs Canada 2.25 dollars Cyprus 0.90 pounds Denmark 11.84 kroner France 10.40 francs Germany 3.10 marks Greece 525 drachma Holland 3.549guilders Ireland 1.24 punts Italy 3,071
ANGRY residents of a Hampshire village estate are bogged down in a row over a recreation ground they claim has been left to go to seed. People at Bursledon's Pilands Wood Estate are angered by the state of the land around the skateboard ramps, wchich
STRUCTURES which include everything from an enormous ants' nest to a giant spider's web are setting a new challenge for youngsters at a country park on the edge of the New Forest. The Forestry Commission's one kilometre timber play trail in woodlands
VICTIMS of domestic violence are being offered mobile phones for protection, after a huge increase in the number of attacks in part of Hampshire. Women at risk from brutal partners will be given free mobile phones so they can call for help in an emergency
A PERMANENT memorial to the work done on developing the hovercraft on the shores of Southampton Water has been unveiled at Hythe. The sculpture, on land where hovercraft inventor Sir Christopher Cockerell led the building and improvements of Britain's
50 Years ago Skaters were out in force on Southampton Com-mon as the freezing weather continued to cover lakes. Southampton's Mayfield Road health clinic was officially opened in Swaythling, the fourth one to be built since the end of the war. 40 Years
WINCHESTER'S MP Mark Oaten has undertaken a marathon journey around his constituency to bolster the campaign to save rural post offices. With more than 10,000 signatures on the petition calling on the government to save the rural post office, his tour
Pompey played the simple game to end a 15-match winless streak that stretched back to British Summer Time thanks to a hat-trick from Steve Claridge against high-flying Barnsley at Fratton Park. Tony Pulis probably wouldn't be the flavour of football's
Matthew Le Tissier is tonight hoping to get his first chance to impress new Saints boss Glenn Hoddle. Le Tissier has been out of action since December 28 with a hamstring injury but is optimistic he will be fit enough for tonight's reserve game against
PARENTS are calling for two oil heaters to be removed from a Hamp-shire infant school, amid claims they are making children ill. Angry parents of pupils at Bursledon Infant School are furious with county education chiefs for allowing their children to
A SOUTHAMPTON secondary school is on the mend after a difficult period characterised by poor exam results and management difficulties. Woodlands Community School is beginning to overcome serious weaknesses and is providing an acceptable standard of education
