South Live: Monday 26 February

1. Updates from Monday 26 February

Good evening

That's it for Monday, but South Live will return at 08:00 GMT on Tuesday for all the latest news, sport, weather and travel.

What makes this the UK's 'best beach'?

By Sue Paz

BBC South

Pigs return despite vegan parent complaint

BBC

The BBC reported on the launching of the scheme at Priestlands School in 2008

Four pigs being reared at a school were sent back to their owner after a vegan parent complained.

Pigs return despite vegan parent complaint

Four pigs being reared at a school were sent back to their owner after a vegan parent complained.

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Pigs return despite vegan parent complaint

Driverless cars 'coming to Didcot Parkway station'

Wokingham parking charges changes planned

Public consultation over new Weymouth playground

Councils merger plan 'to go ahead'

New U's owner speaks

Jerome Sale

BBC Radio Oxford Sports Editor

Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth gives his first one-to-one radio interview to BBC Radio Oxford

Oxford United's new owner Surith Thanakarnjanasuth been giving his first one-to-one interview since his takeover was announced.

He told BBC Radio Oxford about his ambition, his backing in his home country Thailand, and the search for a new manager.

Man dies in minibus and lorry crash

New Southampton mental health centre plan refused

Man arrested after Newbury rape

A man has been arrested after a woman was raped near Newbury town centre on Saturday.

Thames Valley Police said a 40-year-old was arrested yesterday after the incident at around 04:30 GMT in which a 29-year-old woman was raped at an address in the town.

The man is currently in police custody, but the force are continuing to appeal for witnesses.

BBC

Ex-footballers sentenced for fraud

Billy Morgan: Gran advises 'keep it simple'

Mike Egerton/PA Wire

The grandmother of Southampton's bronze-medal-winning snowboarder Billy Morgan has revealed the advice she gave him before he left for the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

His grandmother Shirley, who sings at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh, said she hoped to organise a welcome home party in his honour to mark his medal in the men's snowboard big air at Pyeongchang 2018.

"I said to him before he went, 'Billy - keep it simple, don't try and do anything spectacular. 'Well' Grandma, he said, 'I won't' ... but he did!," she said.

Lymington school pig rearing to return after vegan parent complaint

BBC

Pig rearing is to return to a rural school after parents overwhelmingly backed the scheme.

Four pigs being reared for meat at Priestlands School, Lymington, Hampshire, were sent back to their original owner in January after a vegan parent complained.

The school said a survey completed by 1,000 parents revealed 97% were in favour of pig rearing in its garden.

It has kept animals to teach children about farming since 2008.

Dead horse found tied to tree

Police are investigating after a dead horse was found with its legs bound and tied to a tree in Berkshire.

They were alerted by members of the public who spotted the animal at Upper Denford in Hungerford.

Officers have appealed for witnesses who may have seen any vehicles, potentially with a horsebox, in the area in the early hours of Saturday 19 February, or anyone with any dash-cam footage, to come forward.

It is a criminal offence to abandon a horse, with a maximum 51-week prison sentence and a fine of up to £20,000.

Google

Man dies in A34 minibus and lorry crash in Hampshire

A man has died and three others have been injured after the minibus they were travelling in was involved in a crash with a lorry in Hampshire.

Google

Five people were travelling in the white Ford Transit mini-bus when it hit a lorry on the A34 southbound at Sutton Scotney Services at about 04:40 GMT.

A 36-year-old man, who was one of the passengers, died at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed.

A 19-year-old man, from Durham, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Three other passengers, two 25-year-old men and a 24-year-old man - all from North Yorkshire, were injured - one seriously.

Snow flurries in Southampton

BBC

Look closely and you may see there's been a flurry of snow in central Southampton.

There is currently an amber warning for snow valid from early on Tuesday with snow showers or longer periods of snow expected, accompanied by very low temperatures.

Oxford hope to appoint manager soon

Hayes triple teenage death crash driver pleads guilty

Family handouts

A man has admitted killing three teenage boys who he crashed into near a bus stop as they walked to a birthday party.

Jaynesh Chudasama, 28, appeared at the Old Bailey to admit three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Harry Rice, 17, - a footballer with Basingstoke Town FC - died along with and 16-year-olds George Wilkinson and Josh McGuinness, when Chudasama, from west London, hit them as they walked to a football centre on Shepiston Lane in Hayes.

Sentencing is expected next week.

Dorset councils merger 'to go ahead' - Sajid Javid

Plans to scrap Dorset's nine councils to create two unitary authorities have been approved by the secretary of state for local government.

BBC

In a ministerial statement Sajid Javid said he had decided to implement the merger having previously said he was "minded to" support it.

Eight of the county's authorities voted to support the proposal but it was opposed by Christchurch council.

The decision is subject to parliamentary approval.