Hampshire and Isle of Wight weekly round-up: 15 January - 20 January 2024

A story involving a stuffed fish was among our most read this week in Hampshire and on 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.

A firefighter had his pickup truck stolen from outside a fire station while he was working a night shift.

The black Mitsubishi L200 was taken from the forecourt at Hartley Wintney station on Brewhouse Lane, Hampshire.

The fire station has appealed on social media to anyone who has any information that could help the police to find it, and those responsible for taking it.

A police car travelling at more than 100mph (160km/h) had to swerve to avoid an oncoming vehicle on the wrong side of a dual carriageway.

The near-miss happened on the eastbound A303 in Hampshire at about 20:45 GMT on 12 January.

A dashcam video captured the police car travelling at 117mph (188km/h) when the oncoming vehicle came into view, prompting an exclamation from the police driver.

Officers have appealed for help in tracing the driver of the red car which was travelling westbound between Norton and Micheldever Station.

A man has won the right to buy his late parents' farm after a judge dismissed claims of improper conduct involving stuffed fish.

Alister Cutts, 51, was offered Folds Farm near Fordingbridge, Hampshire, through a trust, the High Court heard.

However, his family challenged the £4.2m price, adding that exchanges of stuffed fish between Mr Cutts and a trustee were a sign of favouritism.

The judge, Master Julia Clark, said the fish allegation was "unarguable".

It will soon cost drivers more money to cross a Southampton road bridge.

The toll to drive over the Itchen Bridge is set to increase, after the city council unanimously voted to raise charges.

Off-peak fees will be scrapped and all car crossings will rise to £1 for non-residents - or 40p for those with a Smart Cities Card.

It is expected to generate £800,000 over three years for the council, which is facing financial difficulties.

Dozens of people attended a demonstration against plans to house asylum seekers in an empty block of flats.

The government said it had a duty to provide safe and secure housing, but has paused its plans to accommodate up to 346 migrants in the building in Farnborough.

Protesters gathered in the town on Saturday 13 January, voicing concerns about prioritising migrants over local homeless people and the impact on services.

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