SEVERAL of Basingstoke's most prolific burglars commit crime to fund their drug habits, the town's top police officer has said. Home Office research has shown a strong link between drugs and crime nationally, and Superintendent Alison Queen said Basingstoke
THE residents of Basingstoke are safer after one of the town's most prolific burglars was jailed for four years in 2003. Jay Bishop, of Hill View Road, South Ham, has committed more than 70 burglary-related offences in that year alone and has a string
John Crawley came agonisingly close to his second first class hundred for Hampshire yesterday. Crawley looked destined to reach three figures in the county championship for the first time since scoring 272 on his debut against Kent at Canterbury in April
THE SEASON has started well for St Mary Bourne Bowling Club with a very successful tour of Torquay. Early league results are mixed but everyone is enjoying their bowling. The club were hosts to teams from the Basingstoke and Bournemouth District Bowling
Andover AC recently held their Young Athletes meeting with great success, despite having to hold the event at Tidworth due to the refurbishment of Charlton track. The club had its biggest turn out yet of local athletes. Clive Handscome of CK Contractors
It's been a 10-year wait, but park-and-ride buses could soon be heading for Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital. The idea is that its staff, together with workers at all the other Romsey Road establishments-the prison, the police HQ and King
A pensioner was said to be in a "critical but stable" condition yesterday (Thursday) after two days in intensive care following his rescue from a blaze at his home in Stanmore, Winchester. Firefighters pulled Henry Thornton (77) out of the fume-filled
A Winchester nonogenarian will be lacing up her trainers to join three other generations of her family in Winchester's Race for Life on Sunday. Mary Stacey (91) and her daughter-in-law, Jean Spencer (63)-both of Harestock, together with granddaughter,
UNION chiefs are calling for a Hampshire firefighter to be sacked after it was revealed he is standing as a candidate for the far right British National Party in today's European elections. They are backing demands for action from shocked colleagues of
PENSIONER Peter Andow just wanted to bring a splash of colour to his neighbourhood. For 15 years he has carefully planted crocuses and snowdrops around lamp posts, on verges and beside a phone box in his street. But his green-fingered attempts to brighten
A HAMPSHIRE firm has done its bit to help in the fight against leukaemia. Staff at Southampton-based Ordnance Survey, Britain's national mapping agency, have designed and printed the latest newsletter of city charity Leukaemia Busters. The agency has
TODAY is a personal D-Day for a 12-year-old Romsey boy who suffers from one of the world's rarest genetic disorders. Josh Hartley will today, dubbed Donor Day, receive bone marrow from his mum that will save his life. It marks the end of more than a week
DON'T be fooled! That is the warning going out to Hampshire businesses after an Eastleigh caf boss received a notice from a bogus agency ordering her to pay a £135 registration fee or be hit with a £5,000 fine. Owner of Caf Fiesta in High Street, Sue
A TEAM of Fareham sailors took part in a 50-mile charity run, row and cycle challenge last weekend. The Keswick Challenge is a 15-mile run, 10-mile row and 26-mile cycle ride around the Lake District in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind. The team, led
MORE than 100 volunteers from Southampton Primary Care Trust have been presented with awards for their continuous hard work and dedication. The event at the Hampshire Rose Bowl was organised as part of National Volunteers Week. Those commended give up
BUDDING Andover football players are gearing up for the second Troy Parker Tournament to raise charity funds in memory of the John Hanson schoolboy who loved the sport. Andover's keenest young soccer stars will be facing each other in the six-a-side knockout
JUST three weeks into Test Valley Borough Council's new garden waste, green sack collection service and the council has had to introduce a waiting list due to an unprecedented demand. More than 11,500 sacks have been distributed within the borough and
KENNET Carers Association is holding an Information Day on Monday, 14 June at the Bouverie Hall, Pewsey - between 10.30am and 3.30 pm. Following the annual meeting, their guest speaker is Dr Simon Manchip, consultant psychogeriatrician at Saver-nake Hospital
POLICE in Andover will be stepping up patrols when England play their matches in Euro 2004, which kicks off tomorrow. With many local pubs screening England's games live, bars are likely to be packed as the nation's football fans meet to support their
OPEN Art 2004 was launched in style on Saturday night at Project Workshops in Quarley. The workshops hosted a gala evening and private view for all the Open Artists and the team. And over the weekend the Fairground Craft and Design Centre held a summer
BUSINESSES and retailers in Fareham are being asked to take part in two surveys that will shape future plans and policy for the town centre. Civic chiefs have appointed two separate companies to undertake the studies, which aim to identify the town's
A FIRM of Eastleigh solicitors has given a cash boost to voluntary work that helps abandoned East European and African children rebuild their lives. Knight & Co, based in Leigh Road, held a mouthwatering Indian supper and film night for its employees
FOOTBALL fever will be taking over at Boswell's caf in Eastleigh's Swan shopping centre this Saturday in a bid to raise cash for the NSPCC. England flags will be flying in the restaurant on the day Euro 2004 kicks off in Portugal and there will be England-style
NEW £2.5m signing Jelle Van Damme can help solve one of Paul Sturrock's main problems at St Mary's - if he can curb his aggression! The 20-year-old Belgian international left-back, pictured, became Sturrock's first main signing as Saints boss on Tuesday
THE Gogmagogs, an eccentric string sextet, bring their colourful show Gumbo Jumbo to The Corn Exchange on Thursday, July 8. "Gumbo" is the name for the classic Cajun stew, in which all available ingredients are thrown into the mix. After simmering for
DAVID Benson is at Basingstoke's Central Studio on Friday, in Think No Evil Of Us - My Life With Kenneth Williams. Known by many for his portrayal of Noel Coward in the BBC sitcom Goodnight Sweet-heart, Benson (pictured) returns to his masterpiece, bringing
PENSIONER Florence Cooper will never forget the day she found out her home had been burgled. The 83-year-old was in hospital when an intruder smashed in through the back door of her Basingstoke home. Doctors kept the raid a secret from Florence for days
NO-ONE wants to become a victim of burglary, but houses all over Basingstoke are a burglar's dream because of poor security. In Basingstoke, several burglaries are reported every week where a burglar enters through an unlocked door or window to steal
Tichborne Park conceded a staggering 73 extras as they surrendered their unbeaten Hampshire League, County Division 1 record to Redlynch & Hale. Extras made up one-third of the Redlynch total of 216-5, which the title favourites failed by 12 runs
SCORES of Hampshire veterans were able to take part in the D-Day commemorations thanks to ferry giant P&O. The momentous occasion saw veterans mingle with their former brothers in arms and world leaders on the very ground in Normandy where Allied
NORWICH Union is to axe 700 jobs nationwide as part of the company's continuing plans to reduce costs but Southampton workers will be spared, The insurance giant slashed 130 Southampton jobs in December to cut costs but the latest round of cuts sees the
SOUTHAMPTON Diving Academy won four individual and 19 team golds at the Southern Counties ASA 1m and synchro event at The Quays. Ellie Steel, 12, who took gold in her age group, demonstrated her high level of ability, while Ciaran O'Reilly, 15, and Chris
Andover II v US Portsmouth II Andover II cruised to a massive victory against a weak US Portsmouth II on Saturday. A victory that puts Ian Gardner's side top of County Division One. On a warm and muggy day Andover won the toss and elected to bat. Coplestone
Three games and no win was not how Penton skipper Mike Wells envisaged the season beginning. A game at home to fellow strugglers Twyford would hopefully turn that around. After losing the toss again, Penton found themselves in the field on another good
THE tide may be turning for Andover Bowling Club for in the Whitchurch League last Wednesday the A team went to Hook and won 5-0. The B team hosted Littleton and won 4-1 while the Thursday afternoon mixed team hosted Oakley and won 7-0, albeit by default
TOTTON councillors have vowed to hold talks with leaders of a senior citizens' club that has been hit by a massive rent rise. Members of Totton and Eling Town Council will meet representatives from the Three Score Club, which has seen its annual ground
GUILDFORD'S Mill Studio is continuing its drive to bring unusual, outrageous and acclaimed theatre to the city. In a short, but powerful, summer season this year, it is also presenting its annual free art exhibition, courtesy of Guildford Arts. An "extraordinary
THE fantastic show Fosse is coming to the New Victoria Theatre, Woking, next month. Running from Monday, July 12, to Saturday, July 17, the show (pictured) celebrates the genius of Bob Fosse, whose signature style is stamped on many of Broadway and Hollywood's
BASINGSTOKE'S new police chief has declared war on burglars - making them his number one target in his aim to make the town a safer place. Superintendent Paul Netherton has leant his weight to The Gazette's Burglary - Let's Beat It campaign, vowing to
A FAGIN-LIKE crook who used children to rob elderly and vulnerable victims in Basingstoke was jailed last year for more than five years. Joseph Toohey travelled from London with two young boys to carry out distraction burglaries, during which the boys
Two massive sixes off the last two balls of the match by Richard Scott, both of which cleared the pavilion, gave Bournemouth a thrilling Southern Electric Cup second-round win over Lymington at the Sports Ground. Bournemouth, last season's beaten finalists
Havant captain Andy Perry could be nursing a hangover in the days leading up to the Cockspur Cup southern region final against Premier League rivals BAT Sports at Havant Park on Sunday, June 27. He's won a bottle of rum from the ECB National Club Championship
FA VASE-WINNING skipper Danny Smith has admitted his departure from Winchester City this summer is inevitable. The former Cherries star, who made 24 full appearances at Dean Court, was widely tipped for a move up the non-league pyramid following his inspirational
Today's Principal Arrivals: CFF Seine, ro/ro, 0530, 25 link; Eijin, vehicle, 0530, 202; Adonia, cruise, 0645, 106; Galicia, vehicle, 0730, 201; CMA CGM Berlioz, container, 1900, 206; P&O Nedlloyd Torres, container, 2359, 205 Today's Principal Sailings
SOLENT Stars are stepping up their search for a coach to succeed Mark Scott at the senior men's helm. Stars, who parted company with Scott, pictured left, last month, are expanding their operation next season and are determined to find the right person
Longparish v Mudeford THIS was a really bad day at the office for Barker-Son and Isherwood-sponsored Longparish when Mudeford came visiting and inflicted an emphatic eight wicket defeat. Winning the toss and batting on what looked like a 200 plus pitch
Hurstbourne Priors v Colden Common Hurstbourne Priors returned to winning ways against Colden Common taking the game in the very last over. Having put Colden Common in, Priors new look opening attack soon removed the top three batsman. Martyn Page trapped
Amport v Alton II Amport turned round a disastrous start to their league season in emphatic style on Saturday as they trounced Alton II at The Peacocks. Before the start they celebrated the handover of new club shirts from main sponsor the Black Swan
RPM 23 KJM 40 The game started well for both teams although top of the division KJM were wanting to seal the winners spot with this game. They gradually pulled away with some accurate shooting from Elaine Aldridge. RPM came back as best as they could
It was the turn of the pairs players last week to try to qualify for a place in the last eight on finals night and the evening produced some great results in venues across the town. Last year's champions, Nigel Hewer and Paul Williams from Chute Club,
WINCHESTER hospital bosses say they have been overwhelmed by public support for their bid for foundation status. More than 10,500 people pledging support have backed the move to give greater freedom to the trust, which runs the Royal Hampshire County
AFTER a slow start when they lost their first league game, Upper Clatford U9B have developed a strong side to become joint winners of the Testway Youth White League, sharing top spot with Porton FC. The Royal Oak-sponsored team have played some entertaining
STAFF at a Winchester school are running this Sunday's Race for Life as a tribute to a former colleague who recently died of cancer. Teachers and support staff from St Bede Primary School thought it would be fitting to make a mark of respect for Rosemary
Andover Golf Club recently held a successful auction of promises that resulted in over £2,000 being raised for the two captain's charities. Lesley Compton and Sue MacDonald superbly masterminded the event and ensured 35 "promises" were auctioned on the
As a doctor who worked for Hampshire Police began a 15-year jail term for abusing three girls, Primecare, the agency that employed him, promised to tighten up its act. A spokesman said: "We are now aware that police checks do not cover areas outside their
Rampaging vandals caused damage of many thousands of pounds to Winchester residents' cars last weekend. The attacks, on Saturday night, are believed to be the largest single acts of vehicle vandalism in the city's history. The culprits, described by one
A Winchester student says he is angry and hurt after being refused entry to a city nightspots because of his headgear. Amardeep Singh Sandhu (19), a Sikh, was wearing a cotton putka over his hair when he was turned away from Moloko's, on his first visit
A former Hampshire judge has been charged with child pornography offences. David Selwood (69), who will appear at London's Bow Street Magistrates' Court next week, was charged on Monday after answering bail at Eastleigh police station, where he spent
A drug overdose which killed a Winchester student was the largest recorded, a Winchester inquest heard this week. The death, on February 29th, of Jack Elliott (17), who swallowed at least 11 Ecstasy tablets, was attributed to "the recklessness of youth
The changing face of Winchester and how to protect its special character was the subject of debate as the public examination of the city council's Local Plan began on Tuesday. The inquiry into the 240-page document, which contains 148 proposals about
Winchester's Holy Trinity Church was awash with flowers at the weekend as parishioners pulled out all the stops to put on a fine floral display to celebrate its 150th anniversary. The festival was just one of several events being held this year to mark
Developers of Winchester's former Minstrels restaurant site are trying to allay residents' fears that the work will cause road chaos. Building firm, Henry Jones, is carrying out the construction for Swindon-based developers, Bach Homes, who also deny
HARD-working youngsters on a Southampton estate were devastated to find vandals had ripped up their gardening project. Children from the 521 scheme in Northam spent two days planting flowers outside their community centre. The louts pulled up the plants
IT'S a rare opportunity that can't be missed. The Daily Echo and Combined Insurance Make It Happen Awards give every reader the chance to make a real difference to people in their community. We've teamed up with Combined Insurance to give you the opportunity
THOUSANDS of people across Hampshire are going to the polls today to vote in local council and Euro elections. In what has been dubbed "Super Thursday" residents across the region will be able to choose the future shape of their councils as well as electing
IT MIGHT not be the most popular job in the world. Slapping tickets on windscreens does not make you the motorist's best friend but at Eastleigh they are queuing up to be parking attendants. In October the town centre will be blitzed by a team of traffic
Just two weeks after a vital kidney transplant operation, Andover teen-ager Naomi Jones is looking forward to coming home and a new future. The operation in St Guys Hospital, London, involved Naomi's mum, Catherine donating a kidney. Both are now recovering
FORGET France, England, Italy and Germany - the winners of Euro 2004 are none other than Croatia. At least they won the mini-table top tournament organized by the Chantry Centre on Saturday. Members of the public were invited to represent every country
A NEW development of eight affordable homes in King's Sombourne have been officially opened by Mrs Mary Fagan Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. The scheme at Hunter Close provides affordable housing for people with connections to the area. The site consists
WHILE figures produced by banks and building societies have shown a huge surge in house prices across the UK the picture in Wiltshire and Hampshire has been more mixed in the past year, according to official figures produced by the Land Registry. During
Solent Stars are looking for a new first team coach this week after Mark Scott had his contract terminated as part of a major overhaul of the club. The changes are designed to promote basketball more widely in the area and to re-establish Solent as a
READY, Steady, Cook is getting the Cricklade College treatment tomorrow night when the heat will be on in the kitchen to raise money for MENCAP. The audience must decide who the winner of the cooking competition will be using a green apple or red tomato
AS a result of the popularity of the primary schools sports festivals at Devizes and Marlbo-rough an additional festival is being staged this year at Tidworth Leisure Centre in partnership with Test Valley Borough Council. Up to 350 children from primary
MEMBERS of the Chute club all got together on Saturday to push a bed around Andover and surrounding villages to raise money in memory of two Chute women. Nancy Dawson died at Andover War Memorial Hospital last year while Peggy Prescot died of cancer two
TODDLERS had a splashing time in Fareham when they took part in a national splashathon. Each child was sponsored to splash around for an hour and complete a width or length, to raise money for research into premature birth and miscarriage. Fareham Leisure
Kevin Summerfield had no hesitations in joining "lively" Paul Sturrock at Southampton. Sturrock's right hand man at Plymouth was again sat alongside him at St Mary's yesterday after being unveiled as one of Saints' two first team coaches. The new-look
