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Hampshire and Isle of Wight weekly round-up: 1 January - 6 January 2024

BBC/PA Wire David Attenborough holding fossilBBC/PA Wire
Researchers at the University of Southampton have appeared alongside Sir David Attenborough in a BBC documentary

A story about a university's involvement in a new David Attenborough series was among our most read 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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Walkers witness 'huge' landslide

Ann Heard Luccombe isle of wightAnn Heard
Luccombe on the Isle of Wight is the latest section of the island's coast to collapse after Ventnor suffered a landslip in December

Walkers described seeing a "huge landslide" at Luccombe on the Isle of Wight.

Ann Heard, from Shanklin, was walking nearby and said: "We heard a loud rumble, which sounded like thunder and saw the collapse happen."

Isle of Wight Council advised people to stay away from the edge and base of the cliffs.

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Hospital declares critical incident for third month in row

PA Media Queen Alexandra Hospital in PortsmouthPA Media
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) declared a critical incident its Queen Alexandra Hospital last month and in November

A hospital trust declared a critical incident for the third time in three months as its wards and emergency department were "full".

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust said on Wednesday the move was to "protect patient safety".

It apologised for delays, which it blamed on a combination of slow systems and increased demand for services at Queen Alexandra Hospital.

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Mothers record 'typical day' parenting their children

Southampton mother says it took two tribunals to secure SEND school

Three women made video diaries, documenting how they cope with limited support while bringing up children with special educational needs (SEND).

Leeanne from Southampton, Alicia from Winchester and Olivia from Didcot in Oxfordshire said they were being impacted by a system struggling with demand.

It comes after research by the BBC in 2023 found half of state-funded schools in England for SEND children were oversubscribed.

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Appearing in Attenborough documentary 'amazing'

University of Southampton Dr Gostling and Sir DavidUniversity of Southampton
Dr Neil Gostling said Sir David was one of the reasons he became a palaeobiologist

Researchers at the University of Southampton appeared alongside Sir David Attenborough in a new BBC documentary.

Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster follows Sir David as he explores the story of a giant pliosaur, an enormous marine reptile whose skull was found buried on the Dorset coast near Kimmeridge Bay.

His investigations lead him to the university, where scientists used highly sophisticated scanning technology to investigate the snout section of the fossilised skull.

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People warned against swimming at popular beach

Andrew Matthews/PA Wire Southsea beach and pier.Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
It follows fears over an imminent poor classification, which kickstarted an investigation involving Southern Water and the EA

Beachgoers were warned about swimming on a popular stretch of seafront.

A section of Southsea's coastline was classed as having poor water quality by the Environment Agency (EA).

The poor rating will mean that signage advising people against bathing will be placed in the area.

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