MANUFACTURING is faltering as business confidence and export prospects fall at the fastest rate for 18 months, according to the latest Confederation of British Industry survey. The CBI's quarterly industrial trends survey for July shows business confidence
In Port Today's principal Southampton arrivals: Portlink Caravel, container, 1015, 204W; Briarthorn, cargo, pm, 107. Sailings: Estoril, ro-ro, 1000, 201 link; NYK Castor, container, 1030, 207; Don Carlos, ro-ro, 1300, 38/9; Hual Angelita, ro-ro, 1300,
A NEW £2.1 million breakwater at Cowes Yacht Haven has created space for another 70 boats at this year's Skandia Life Cowes Week to meet the growing demand from sailing-crazy competitors. Sir Maurice Laing, the construction magnate, unveiled a special
SOUTHAMPTON'S maritime heritage was celebrated in a special festival at the weekend. Thousands of people flocked to the city's waterfront Mayflower Park to see the variety of activities on offer at the Festival of the Oceans. Parents relaxed in deckchairs
GOVERNMENT watchdogs have praised Southampton social services for its performance. The Social Services Inspectorate and the Audit Commission reported that most of the city's residents are safe and there were "pockets of excellence" - such as an extremely
The age-old rivalry between Solent Swans Flamboyant and Jacobite was given some early spice at Skandia Life Cowes Week after a weekend of intense competition. Following on from Cork Week, where Stephen James's Swan 48 beat Chris Jago's Flamboyant into
WINCHESTER twins Edna Mitchell and Joan Townley celebrated their 80th birthdays with a surprise family reunion. The pair who were born and bred in the city met up with family, some of who had travelled from Italy, for the day at Lainston House near Winchester
Travel Pound Australia 2.43 dollars Austria 21.37 sch Belgium 62.66 fr Canada 2.13 dollars Cyprus 0.88 pounds Denmark 11.58 kro France 10.19 fr Germany 3.03 dm Greece 521 dra Holland 3.42 guilders Ireland 1.22 punts Italy 3,008 lira Japan 158.29 yen Malta
A 41-year-old man has been arrested today on suspicion of the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne. Police confirmed just before noon that a man, named as Roy Whiting, is being questioned about the killing of the Sussex youngster. The arrest came at Crawley
KEITH HAMILTON looks through past editions of the Echo and reviews the issues which made the headlines 50 Years Ago Prime Minister Clement Attlee was in Southampton to open the £750,000 Ocean Terminal. He described the building as "a monument of British
A HAMPSHIRE man with a potentially fatal brain tumour who could not have vital tests due to a lack of hospital beds has finally been found a place in a specialist ward. As reported in the Daily Echo, Rodney Lewis has been left lying in a general ward
LONG queues were expected at petrol pumps across the South today as motorists fill up before a one-day boycott of garages. Campaign group Dump the Pump is expecting thousands of Hampshire drivers to take part in tomorrow's protest against the government's
TRAFFIC LIGHTS on the South's motorway slip roads are due to be switched on this week. Transport and environment minister Lord Larry Whitty will press the start button at junction 3 of the M27 on Thursday morning. Highways Agency experts believe the lights
DOZENS of families have been left homeless after a fire ripped through high-rise block of flats. More than 40 people had to be evacuated after flames tore through the upper floors of the 16-storey building, leaving a trail of devastation. Fifty firefighters
A STUNNING sculpture exhibition, inspired by man's sense of the sacred, opens this week at Winchester Cathedral. Sculpture And The Divine includes some 20 works, ranging from unknown artists from as long ago as 380BC to some of the greatest contemporary
HAMPSHIRE Hawks overcame their home-sickness to notch only their second win of the season. Hawks flew higher than Essex Eagles at a County Ground home which has become a haunted house this campaign. The six-wicket win was their first victory at Southampton
Pompey boss Tony Pulis will step up his efforts to improve his squad this week after admitting the situation is almost reaching emergency proportions. Although Pulis was bitterly disappointed after missing out on Bristol Rovers' striker Jason Roberts
Saints today received another major boost when rising star Wayne Bridge became the latest player to commit his long-term future to the club. Bridge has signed a new four-year deal to follow the example of Marian Pahars who last week agreed a similar extension
Saints' staying power proved too much for Second Division Read-ing who saw victory snatched from their grasp by virtually the last kick of the game. Just seven seconds remained on the clock when Kevin Davies miscued a shot and the home defence stopped
THE THEME was watery and so was the weather as Southamp-ton's colourful carnival spectacular wowed thousands of people who lined the city's streets at the weekend. But despite the rain, more than 50,000 people turned out to marvel at the creative costumes
LYMINGTON looked like a mini version of Hollywood as residents saluted the world of showbiz. Many of the people who took part in the annual carnival procession on Saturday evening were dressed as stars of stage and screen. A float entered by Lymington
PERHAPS it wasn't quite a rerun of the famous final scene in the classic movie Brief Encounter. That's because this couple caught the steam train together and definitely managed a happy ending when they tied the knot in special style at the weekend. Winchester
THOUSANDS of people lined the streets for Romsey's annual carnival procession and watched the spectacle of 25 floats driving past to the tune of marching bands. Amazingly, despite the downpours that hit other areas of Hampshire on the day, spectators
