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Hampshire and Isle of Wight weekly round-up: 27 November - 2 December

Wight Coast Fossils Giant fossil ammoniteWight Coast Fossils
The huge fossil is thought to be a rare Epicheloniceras ammonite

A huge fossil uncovered from a boulder was among our most read stories this week in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

A variety of local issues featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Solent and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

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A&E to close under hospitals restructuring plan

BBC Royal Hampshire County HospitalBBC
Royal Hampshire County Hospital declared the critical incident after a car crashed into the wall of a power unit on site

The accident and emergency department in Winchester is set to be closed as part of a restructure of hospital provision in Hampshire.

Under plans announced, a new acute specialist hospital would be built in north Hampshire, costing up to £900m.

The Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester would be refurbished and a new "urgent treatment centre" opened.

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Fox found with plastic around neck released

Second Chance Fox Rescue and Rehabilitation Fox rescueSecond Chance Fox Rescue and Rehabilitation
Second Chance Fox Rescue and Rehabilitation captured and treated the fox

A fox that was found with a plastic tube stuck around its neck has been released by rescuers.

The distressed animal was first found by residents in Gosport, Hampshire, three weeks ago.

Second Chance Fox Rescue and Rehabilitation in North Baddesley captured her and removed the plastic.

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New information in placenta discovery mystery

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A path off Dale Road in Southampton was cordoned off by police after the discovery

The mother of a baby whose placenta was found on a path is believed to have a west African background, police have revealed.

The placenta was found near the Spire and General hospitals, off Dale Road in Southampton, on 21 June.

There are concerns as both the mother and baby are yet to be found.

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Tankers line up to draw waste from from burst sewer

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A chain of tankers made round trips to draw the sewage from the burst while it was repaired

A queue of tankers lined up along a New Forest road to remove wastewater from a burst sewer so it could be fixed.

Southern Water deployed the tankers to pump out the sewage from the burst at Ashurst Bridge Road in Totton.

The tankers made round trips taking sewage from the burst to be treated at a wastewater treatment works.

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Enormous fossil ammonite dug out from boulder

Wight Coast Fossils Jack Wonfor with the ammoniteWight Coast Fossils
Jack Wonfor spotted an initial edge of the ammonite exposed from the rock

A giant fossil ammonite has been recovered from a fallen boulder on a beach.

The edge of the creature's shell was spotted in the block by fossil collector Jack Wonfor on the Isle of Wight's southwest coast.

Fossil enthusiasts from across the island came together to painstakingly extract the fossil, which weighs over 150kg (24 stone), from the boulder.

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