WORK to build the world's biggest ever cruise liner started today when the first giant keel section was put in place. Construction of the 220,000 tonne ship, with the working title of Project Genesis, started at the Aker Yards shipyard in Turku, Finland
DEMAND for the UK-built Ford Transit, which makes up the majority of the company's commercial vehicle sales, has led to extra production at the Southampton assembly plant. The front-wheel drive Transit model, including the SportVan, pictured, modified
THE McRae Enduro rally car, powered by a Ford-assembled engine, has won the prestigious Idea of the Year at the 2007 Autocar Awards, and been dedicated to the late Colin McRae by the team behind it. The rally car, which will be competing in races including
KIA is pitching its new supermini straight at the ladies who love their motors - saying there's a new car in town and it's the ultimate accessory. It says: "Forget shoes, handbags - even clothes! - the new-look Kia Picanto will ensure you get heads
A TENNIS club in Winchester has launched an appeal to allow it to build four new covered courts. Some people living near to Winchester Lawn Tennis and Squash Club oppose the scheme, branding it an "overwhelming eyesore". A Government inspector held
A HAMPSHIRE man confessed he had lied in court over a driving incident in Southampton. Paul Rose, 52, pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to perjury during a case before New Forest magistrates in which he was a witness. Rose admitted making a
OPPOSITION to a new town in the heart of Hampshire countryside will come to light at a meeting tonight. Eagle Star Estates has resurrected plans for a new settlement at Micheldever Station, north of Winchester. The company has been pressing for the
TIS THE season to be shopping. Which can entail trudging around overheated stores while carrying that warm coat you put on to fend off the chill as well as an ever increasing burden of circulation--cutting carrier bags. You'll be able to take heart,
CONGRATULATIONS to the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) and everyone else involved in bringing the 20p motorcycle toll on the Itchen Bridge to an end. It's not the money but the disadvantage and time involved in removing one, more often both, gloves to
THREE Cross Motorcycles will transfer UK distribution of Cagiva and MV Agusta motorcycles to Moto GB Ltd with effect from January 1. The decision was taken in order to free up resources at Three Cross Imports division to concentrate on their successful
A MAJOR restoration project is under way in a Hampshire country park. The £150,000 project will see the roof of the unique Grade II listed Empire Building in the Royal Victoria Country Park at Netley completely replaced after it started leaking. Built
A DRUG user who sprayed homophobic graffiti on a council house in the New Forest after he was booted out by the tenant has been jailed for six months. Sheldon Willard, 51, waged a campaign of harassment which included posting four threatening notes after
The Red Squad will play Bournemouth on Saturday 15th December at Chapel Gate (Directions Below). Bournemouth have informed us that the kick off will be 11.00am NOT 10.30am as previously told. Players to be at the ground for 10.00am please wearing
GRADUATE programmes at Southampton University's School of Chemistry have been rated among the best in Europe, in a prestigious ranking. Southampton's is one of only seven UK chemistry departments to appear in the "excellence group" in the ranking of
OUT of the ashes of yet another failed multi-million pound scheme to redevelop Royal Pier, Southampton has been given the opportunity to breathe new life into its once premier waterfront. A new look-out point, maritime museum, bars, cafes, restaurants
THREE boys were held up in an attempted robbery in Southampton by a man claiming he had a knife. Two 13-year-olds and an 11-year-old were walking along Cobden Crescent when the man approached them and demanded their mobile phones and money. He said
A HAMPSHIRE man who admitted a £43,000 benefits scam was further remanded in custody pending sentence in the new year. John Adnett, 57, pleaded guilty to nine charges of making a dishonest representation for obtaining benefit. He accepted submitting
Sisu Capital remain the favourites to complete a takeover of Coventry City - and not Greek billionaire Alki David. Mr David, a 39-year-old businessman, film director and actor reputed to be worth £4 billion, claimed he was confident of completing a
THE wife of the back-from-the-dead canoeist arrested in Hampshire was remanded in custody today when she appeared in court accused of two deception offences totalling more than £160,000. Mother-of-two Anne Darwin, 55, faced magistrates in Hartlepool
THE jury in the trial of a ferry officer accused of killing three sailors after his ship allegedly sank their yacht started its fifth day of deliberations today. The seven women and five men retired at Winchester Crown Court last Wednesday to consider
SOUTHAMPTON'S place at the forefront of Europe's cruise business has been cemented for the next 20 years, with the signing of an historic agreement with the world's biggest cruise company. Port bosses are celebrating the 20-year deal which ties Carnival
STAFF at the Southampton offices of accountants BDO Stoy Hayward have said "buenos dias" to new Spanish courses launched by the company. The language classes, run by MBS Language Training, are proving hugely popular and are part of the office's Well
TOP staff at motor giant Hendy Group's Southampton dealerships have been honoured at the company's eighth annual service technician and administrator awards ceremony. Kevin Richards, a technician with the group at Hendy Ford in Marchwood, was the overall
THE Southampton and Eastleigh area has been ranked among the top five UK "cities" for employment growth. There are 40,000 more jobs in the city than there were in 1995, according to research group Centre for Cities, which says Southampton/Eastleigh enjoys
Today's principal Southampton arrivals: Grande Ellade, vehicle, 0830, 102; Tasco, vehicle, 0830, 38/9; Global Spirit, vehicle, 1030, 40; Kiel Express, container, am, 204; CMA CGM Berlioz, container, am, 207; Danube Highway, vehicle, 1630, 43 Today's
When it comes to buying saucy Christmas gifts, it seems Southampton women are getting bolder. KATE THOMPSON talks to Tracy Fullbrook, assistant manager at Ann Summers' city centre store FORGET that boring pair of socks or the latest DVD, it seems
A LOLLIPOP lady who has put on festive fancy dress for the past 20 years has been banned from spreading Christmas cheer by Scrooge-like council chiefs. Margaret Russell was told she can no longer bring seasonal joy to scores of youngsters because it
QUEEN Victoria left on her maiden voyage today to the sights and sounds of a spectacular firwork display. Cunard's £300m ship set sail for a ten-night cruise to northern Europe and the continental Christmas markets at 5pm against the background of the
THEY are supposed to be the happiest days of your life and now a group of Southampton people are putting together a book that aims to recall their schooldays at the former Moorhill Secondary School. Now an appeal is going out to Hampshire Heritage readers
IS £10 too much to charge to see a game of non-league football? Eastleigh director / co-assistant manager Paul Doswell believes tonight's free admission experiment at the Silverlake Stadium could provide the answer. The Blue Square South side have
VT FC have a home tie awaiting them if they get through Saturday's delayed FA Vase third round assignment at Merstham. Victory for Dave Diaper's men would pit them against North Lincolnshire outfit Winterton Rangers at Portsmouth Road on Saturday, January
ICELANDIC investment group Baugur is considering launching a £40m takeover bid for high street suit hire chain Moss Bros, which has two stores in Southampton and another in Winchester. The group which already owns a number of UK high street names including
AMBULANCES in Hampshire could be operated by a single paramedic when answering emergency calls. South Central Ambulance Service, which covers the county, has submitted plans for greater use of "solo responders" instead of two-person crews, to help meet
Richard Bland got off to a flying start on the latest European Tour with a top-ten finish in the Dunhill Championship in South Africa. The 34-year-old Southampton golfer was in a five-way tie for ninth place - which meant a sizeable early cheque of
IN response to the letter by Stephen Fennerty. I too would like to wish Bitterne Park infants and juniors good luck in their quest to obtain a school field. I am both a user of riverside park and a parent of two small children and I think it's a fabulous
NEITHER Mr Moorby (December 3) nor Mrs Gidley herself should be surprised that she is attracting so much criticism from her constituents. She thought it was OK to claim the outrageous amount of £143,000 for her expenses, making her Hampshire's most expensive
WHY should the taxpayer not pay for the election expenses of individuals when standing for election to government? The cost for individual candidates (say £10,000 and any increase only by the rate of inflation and bomb proofed against change except
I RECEIVED a letter today from Southampton City Council about their worries at having a T-mobile mast put up in the Weston and Woolston areas. When I got to the bottom of the letter I noticed that if I wanted to contact them on any views I had a choice
I SAID it before and I have said it again. Speed cameras are nothing more than a stealth tax, providing jobs for the people who operate them. You cannot tell me the sneaky camera in Hythe village where the 40mph limit was reduced to 30 once the
COUNCILLOR Royston Smith is to be admired for sticking rigidly to the Conservative line that their proposed cuts in Southampton are all the fault of the Government and nothing to do with them (letters December 5). Councillor Smith once again trots out
FUEL industry bosses have warned protesters they will be ready for them when they try to bring the country's fuel supply to a halt this weekend. Organisers have promised the action will be "bigger and better" than the oil refinery blockades of September
A PRISONER who escaped from custody had been due to appear in court, the Daily Echo can reveal. The trial of Michael Tutt had to be adjourned yesterday after a judge read the Daily Echo report that a defendant was on the run. Tutt, 24, had been due
HAMPSHIRE council chiefs are to ban outside consultants from being involved in interviews or putting contracts out to tender. The move comes after the new county council chief executive Andrew Smith was cleared of misconduct over awarding IT contracts
MERGING two Hampshire colleges will damage young people's education for years to come, according to bosses at one of the threatened institutions. The boss of St Vincent's College in Gosport spoke out after hearing that the Learning and Skills Council
