South Live: Monday 31 December

1. Updates from Monday 31 December

McBurnie brace helps Swans rout Reading

Good evening

Thanks for reading today. South Live will be back with more news, sport, weather and travel from 08:00 on Wednesday.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!

Sailor Alex Alley restarts crowd-funded record bid

A sailor whose crowd-funded round-the-world trip was thwarted by technical problems has begun his challenge after carrying out vital repairs.

Alex Alley, 48, from Hampshire, aims to become the fastest mariner to make the solo trip in a Class40.

After leaving Gosport on Christmas Eve, his wind instruments malfunctioned and he diverted to Brest, France.

Mr Alley eventually set off from Brest earlier, passing the start line near Urshant shortly after 14:30.

Claure Breton

Family pays tribute to man killed in Andover crash

The family of a man who died in a motorcycle crash days before Christmas have paid tribute to him.

Ric Oldham, 35, from Andover, was killed when his motorcycle collided with a Ford Focus on the B3400 near Hurstbourne Priors on 22 December.

Mr Oldham's family said in a statement: "The loss of Ric has left us shocked and devastated.

"We'd like to thank all our friends and family for their heartfelt messages and support through this hard time. Please respect our families' wishes to privately grieve at this time."

Hampshire Constabulary

Ric Oldham died in the collision whilst travelling to work

Appeal for missing Poole man

Dorset Police

Mark Keadell may not have "vital medication" with him

Dorset Police is appealing for help to find a Poole man missing for about two weeks.

Mark Keadell, 50, of Kimmeridge Avenue, was reported missing at 13:38 on Wednesday after he had not been seen by his family for around a week.

A sighting was reported of a man who was believed to be Mark in the area of Innovation Close near Tower Park in Poole on either 13 December or 14 December.

It was reported he had a cut to his forehead as well as to his hands and feet. He was wearing blue jeans, a blue jumper and had no shoes on and just one sock.

Mark is white, 5ft 7ins and of average-to-slim build. He has short grey hair and grey blue eyes.

Insp Richard Bader said: "This is very out of character for Mark and we believe he does not have vital medication with him."

Almost 300 animals rescued in Hampshire

Fire crews in Hampshire have been called to save a total of 284 animals from a series of perilous situations over the past two years.

Figures from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service showed the most calls were regarding animals needing rescuing from water, with 102 domestic pets - such as cats, dogs, and horses - 43 wild animals, and 36 farm animals getting into bother.

A total of 66 calls were made to help pets who had managed to get stuck in high places, like trees.

Calls to save a swan, a gull, and even a duck from water were also made. Two swans, two pigeons, a seagull, and a snake also needed rescuing.

Saints made it easy for City - Hasenhuttl

BBC Sport

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl says they gave away easy goals during their 3-1 defeat by Manchester City at St Marys.

The Austrian admitted he "likes" the busy Christmas schedule in English football as Saints prepare to face Chelsea on Wednesday.

Goals before half-time cost Southampton - Hasenhuttl

Cow gets trapped in drinking trough...

Residents return after fatal explosion

Strike hits New Year's Eve trains

Teen robbed at knifepoint ion Gosport

A 16 year-old boy was robbed of his mobile phone at knifepoint by a man in Gosport, Hampshire police said.

The teenager was walking along Military Road at around 22:00 on Sunday when a man on a bicycle demanded cash from him.

He produced a small knife and took the teenager's blue Samsung Galaxy S6 mobile phone, which had a clear rubber case, and a pair of black headphones

The teenager was not hurt and described the man as:

• White
• In his twenties
• Between 5ft 6ins and 6ft tall
• He had dirty blonde hair and a full beard
• He had a local accent
• He was wearing a dark coat with the hood pulled up and was riding a small black BMX bike

Town Quay water search for missing man

Police hoping to trace a man who went missing after leaving a bar in Southampton on Christmas Day have carried out a water search off Town Quay in Southampton

Godfrey Mukondo, 41, who is from the city, was last seen leaving CoCo Bar and Lounge in Town Quay at about 04:30.

Police say family and friends have not seen or heard from him since.

Witney care service rated 'outstanding' by watchdog

Domiciliary care agency Laurel Leaf Support Limited was inspected by the Care Quality Commission on 22 November and rated "outstanding".

It cares for people living in their own homes in the Witney area with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders or sensory impairment.

In its report the CQC said the service had "excellent leadership" and "people, relatives and professionals were extremely positive".

"The team continuously looked for and created innovative ideas on how to have a positive influence on people's lives and how to adapt the service delivery to the changing needs of people receiving support," it added.

Wokingham schools spend more than £1m on supply staff

Schools in Wokingham spent more than £1.1m on hiring supply staff last year due to "nationwide recruitment difficulties," a councillor said.

Schools in the borough spent an average of £21,225 on hiring teachers in 2018.

Pauline Hellior-Symons, executive member for children's services at Wokingham Borough Council, added that there was "no impact" on council funds as "schools are responsible for their own budgets and staffing".

In neighbouring Reading, schools spent £1.66m on temporary staff and agency supply, despite spending £200,000 more on employing temporary teachers than Wokingham schools.

Google

Winnersh Primary School in Wokingham spent more than £80,000 on supply teachers

Police search for samurai sword continues

Police have said a samurai sword that may have been used in an attack that left a man with a life-threatening head injury has still not been found.

The 23-year-old from Winchester was found at a house in Heinz Burt Close at about 22:15 on 21 December.

He remains in a critical condition at Southampton General Hospital.

A 17-year-old boy held on suspicion of attempted murder has been released on police bail.

A 17-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was previously released while inquires continue.

A 48-year-old man from Bursledon is no longer suspected of grievous bodily harm but has been rearrested and released under investigation on suspicion of possessing Class B drugs.

BBC

Man arrested after Poole business burglaries

A man has been arrested in connection with burglaries at businesses in Poole, Dorset Police said.

They were reported over 48 hours between 25 November and 26 November at the Dawkins Road Industrial Estate.

Two burglaries were reported at MB Wilkes and the Craigos catering vehicle, with cash, kitchen appliances and diesel allegedly stolen.

Diesel was also stolen from a vehicle belonging to Aerothermal Limited.

A 43-year-old Poole man has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and was released under investigation.

Robbers steal trousers from man's legs

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was robbed of his trousers which had his iPhone, house keys and wallet in the pockets.

The man, aged in his 20s, was walking in Roumelia Lane in Boscombe at about 04.30 on Christmas Day when he was pushed to the ground and kicked by two men who patted his pockets and then pulled his trousers off.

The men made off down Roumelia Lane toward Adeline Road with the trousers.

The man was treated in hospital for cuts and bruising to his face and knees.

Police said the two men were described as white, about 5ft 9" tall, and of average build.

Found: The plane wreck that could solve a mystery

By Emma Jane Kirby

BBC News

Grid mastered by 'naughty' ponies

A pair of New Forest ponies that have learnt how to step over a cattle grid to get to the grass on the A31 have kept police and fire crews busy overnight.

Fire crews washed out the mud in the grid in a bid to stop the horses walking across, but they still managed to cross.

Officers have now put up a police cordon to keep the pair off the dual carriageway.