MECHANIC Tim Smith was left grappling with an unusual problem while working on a car at a Winchester garafe when he opened up the bonnet to discover a boa constrictor. Tim made the discovery at the Martins garage in Winchester. It was a baby boa constrictor
THEY hunted in a pack and attacked their victim without mercy. These are the horrifying images of brutal assault on a defenceless man whose only crime was being unlucky enough to be in their path. No doubt fuelled by booze and angry after England's defeat
A HAMPSHIRE businessman murdered his Finnish born wife and then dumped her body in woodland, a court heard today. Mike Gissord-Hull, 43, murdered his wife Kirsi during a violent row at their home in Harestock Road, Harestock, in September last year,
THE RICH and vibrant culture of a west African country can be experienced during an event to celebrate Balck History Month. The first ever Ayiko Ghanaian Cultural Family Day is being held at Mottisfont Abbey on Saturday October 7 in a bid to celebrate
Tracy Beaker Gets Real comes to the Mayflower from Tuesday to Saturday courtesy of the Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company. Mary Morris, who adapted the original Jacqueline Wilson book into the popular BAFTA nominated TV series, now brings Tracy to
VISITORS to the Edinburgh Festival this summer were confronted by giant posters of one of the best-loved comedians on the Fringe. "Tim Vine ," it screamed in letters several feet high, "is not appearing at this year's Festival." It was an inspired move
THE Sound of Music captured the hearts of millions when the film debuted in 1965. Forty years later, the picture is still captivating our imaginations. Now, for the first time, the real von Trapp children are making their debut in the UK with a ten-date
The Dalian Players have been performing at their fully staged theatre in the Methodist Church Hall, Manor Road North, Woolston, Southampton, which sits approximately 800 people, since 1952. Last time the players took to the stage they brought us the
TONY Hadley is at The Anvil on Wednesday with Swinging True - The Big Band Tour. This is a brand new show featuring music from Tony's stunning new swing album Passing Strangers together with big band arrangements of classic hits such as True, Gold, Through
BAND of the moment The Kooks stop at Southampton Guildhall tomorrow night for an eagerly-anticipated gig which sold out in just a few hours. For the indie band, who have enjoyed tremendous recent chart success with singles such as Ooh La, Nave and She
BABYSHAMBLES and Friends release a cover of the Clash classic Janie Jones through B-Unique Records on Monday October 30 in aid of charity. But you can get a sneak preview at a show at Southampton Guildhall this week. The single features contributions
SALLYFORTH formed around Easter time in 2005 and by combining energetic indie with elements of explosive progressive rock they have rapidly established themselves as one of the best undiscovered talents in the country. The band, from Chichester, released
Since Boy Kill Boy burst into the music mainstream just over a year ago they have achieved three top 30 singles and a top 20 album Civilian, not a bad start for the east London four. Earlier this year the band completed a US tour with the Charlatans but
OLIVER Stone, a filmmaker well acquainted with controversy, swallows his usual political bile to craft this harrowing tribute to the men and women of the emergency services who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, in New York City. Faced with so
Richard Laxton's feature film debut resets Romeo And Juliet to the multicultural melting pot of south London, where gangs of rappers do battle with microphones and clever wordplay. Characters are sketched in disappointingly feeble strokes, and there is
Click is a time-travelling comedy about a selfish, uncaring man's gradual redemption. Director Frank Coraci and leading man Adam Sandler struggle to find the sweetness or light in Steve Koren and Mark O'Keefe's screenplay. Indeed, Sandler's career-oriented
VISITORS of all ages enjoyed a big splash birthday bash at Blashford Lakes on Saturday to mark the tenth anniversary of the nature reserve created among the reclaimed gravel pits of the Avon Valley near Ringwood. Since its opening by wildlife celebrity
A NEW outdoor performing arts stage has been unveiled at a Hampshire school. The Mayor of Eastleigh, Councillor Peter Wall, performed the honours at Wildern School in Hedge End. Singers from the school-based community choir performed at the event to
CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after a government planning inspector threw out plans for a controversial Tetra broadcast mast at Valley Park, Chandler's Ford. Airwave 02 has been told by the inspector Bridget Campbell to take down the 22-metre mast - much
A STANDARDS committee will today decide whether to clear the former mayor of Lymington of bringing the planning process into disrepute. Councillor Kevin Ault, pictured, was accused of breaching the code of conduct over a planning application for 12 homes
A NEW garden is opening in Winchester although with somewhat restricted access. The sensory garden, built by prisoners, is behind the walls of the city's jail and will be enjoyed mainly by patients in the prison's healthcare centre. Designed to stimulate
ONE of the biggest auctions of farm machinery in Hampshire is taking place near Winchester at the end of October. The sale of most of the 5,000-acre Hursley estate by Geoff Squire to two local landowners means that hundreds of items of machinery are
AN 11-year-old boy has been suspended from a Hampshire school after threatening to shoot pupils with a toy gun, the Daily Echo can reveal. The youngster took the weapon, similar to the one pictured below, to school and boasted he would shoot his terrified
A DAD facing eviction from his council flat just weeks after the death of his partner has been told that he can stay put. After weeks of turmoil, Southampton taxi driver Tony Whyte and his four-year-old son Michael have been given the all-clear to stay
THIS week's lucky winner of the Daily Echo's fantastic Find the Ball competition is Miss DC Freeman. Miss Freeman netted the runner-up prize of £2,500. Do not forget to buy your copy of tomorrow's Daily Echo to stand a chance of winning the jackpot
WINCHESTER: Robyn meets the team who helped to save her after 40ft fall IT was a heartfelt thank you from a little girl to the men who saved her life. Robyn Wiggins was left critically ill after plunging almost 40ft through a barn and on to concrete
Tony Blair's speech to the Labour conference was supposed to be his swan song. It was more like a dead duck floating in the oily platitudes of one who knows he is no longer in command. I fail to see why he still believes he will be a great loss to the
SAINTS are anticipating their biggest crowd of the season tomorrow - but have refused to criticise the level of attendances so far at St Mary's. Four successive league and cup wins - including three away - could see the first 25,000-plus crowd of 2006
Dexter Blackstock returns to St Mary's tomorrow with George Burley admitting: "I couldn't hold back his career". The Saints boss was unable to give the 20-year-old striker the summer assurance he wanted regarding first team football. So, when QPR
A CANNABIS factory worth £60,000 was uncovered after a fire started in the house where the drug was being grown in bulk. Neighbours alerted the fire service after seeing smoke pouring out of a bedroom window of the house in Southampton. When firefighters
By Jack Hyom Almost 150 expectant spectators witnessed a fine display from The Wizard of Wishaw' John Higgins at Chandler's Ford Snooker Club. The former world champion won all 10 challenge matches against some of the best club players in the south
PARENTS, residents, governors and teachers turned up to Grove Park Business and Enterprise College to tell education bosses why their school should remain open. A total of 240 people packed into the school, which is under threat from closure, to hear
HAMPSHIRE workers who lost their pensions were today demanding action be taken against a government department that wrongly said they would be in line for compensation. After celebrating the news this week that they would be line for thousands of pounds
I'VE just had my photo taken. Well, more than one photo actually. You see, I've decided I should try internet dating. Yes, I do feel a bit disloyal to "him", but it won't do to put all of my eggs in one basket will it? Having found a website, it
NAOMI House children's hospice has raised a record-breaking £3m in voluntary income. Total income for 2005/06 at the hospice in Sutton Scotney, near Winchester, was £3.9m with expenditure amounting to £3.5m. Revenue came from donations, fundraising events
THE victim of a late-night street assault described how he was off work for four months and suffered panic attacks after the incident. Leslie Sherwood added he had been "terribly worried" about giving evidence in court and that his blood pressure had
