COMEDIAN Benny Hill and nursing heroine Florence Nightingale may seem to have little in common.

But they both played a major role in propelling the Eastleigh borough area on to the world stage.

Before he became a household name Southampton-born Benny delivered milk to the doorsteps of Eastleigh. He put the town on the musical map with his chart-topping song Ernie and the lyrics mentioned part of his round.

One of the verses ran:

And he galloped into Market Street with his badge upon his chest.

His name was Ernie and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

The magnificent internationally-famed military hospital at Netley's Royal Victoria Country Park, opened in Victorian times, was developed under the watchful eye of Florence Nightingale.

Benny and Florence are among the famous in a new leaflet depicting how they influenced the development and heritage of the Hamble Valley region.

Their stories give a fascinating insight into the borough's villages, attractions and countryside. Eastleigh was also home to the late Heinz Burt, who as one of The Tornados, topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic with the legendary Telstar.

The Famous People leaflet , produced by Hamble Valley - the brand name for Eastleigh Council's tourism services - also mentions sporting legends like Tommy Green, who was the oldest winner of the Olympic 50k walking medal in Los Angeles.

Famous architects have shaped the region's heritage including Lancelot "Capability" Brown who redesigned North Stoneham Park in 1775.

And that great Victorian railway architect Sir William Tite designed Eastleigh Railway Station.

Famous People makes stimulating reading for anyone with an interest in the past and enables visitors to go to many of the places in the area frequented by nationally celebrated historical characters.

For a free copy phone 0906 6822001 and leave a message with your name and address or e-mail hamblevalley@eastleigh.gov.uk.