Weekly round-up: Five stories you may have missed

The twins got crocodile balloons to wear during the swim, which they said helped them keep track of each other

A story about twins completing a charity swim three years after one of the sisters saved the other from a crocodile attack was among our most read stories this week in the south.

We have picked five stories from the week across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Berkshire and Oxfordshire to keep you up to date.

Water fountain from burst pipe closes road

A fountain of water from a burst pipe closed a major Oxfordshire road.

The fault on the A4130, between Wallingford and Didcot, sent water shooting about 30 to 40ft into the air.

It was reported near the Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary at about 05:30 BST on Thursday.

Thames Water engineers carried out repairs and stemmed the flow of water, but the company said the road would remain closed to traffic until it was safe to fully reopen.

Couple 'facing homelessness' over MoD eviction

Colin and Coryne Hall have lived in their home for five years

A couple in their 70s facing eviction from the home they rent from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have said they will be homeless if they cannot contest the eviction.

Colin and Coryne Hall had been renting the four-bedroom house in Bordon, Hampshire, for five years when they received a notice to quit - a kind of eviction notice - in the post.

Mrs Hall said the private rental prices were "extortionate for the sort of property we would need", and that the council told them they could only get a one-bedroom flat, and that there was a waiting list.

The MoD said: "Civilian tenants who rent homes that are temporarily not required for service personnel sign-up to two months’ notice to vacate."

Twins take on 'cathartic' swim after croc attack

Georgia and Melissa completed the Thames Marathon swim to raise money for two charities

Twin sisters who survived a crocodile attack say completing a charity swim felt like a "beautiful, cathartic" moment.

Georgia Laurie, from Sandhurst in Berkshire, punched a crocodile in the face when it attacked her twin Melissa in Mexico in June 2021.

The pair both have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the attack and took part in the eight-mile (13km) Thames Marathon swim from Henley to Marlow to raise money for charity.

Talking to the BBC, the sisters laughed recalling the moment Melissa accidentally punched a crocodile balloon during the event on Sunday.

The teen taking an electric boat round Britain

Harry Besley departed on his journey in mid-July in a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) powered solely by electricity

Electric cars, buses and bikes are all now commonplace.

But as we seek to decarbonise transport, electric boats and ships are still very unusual.

Even more unusual is the challenge undertaken by 18-year-old Harry Besley. He is trying to be the first person to go round the UK in an electric power boat.

The BBC caught up with him as he reached the Isle of Wight.

Call for knitters to create trauma teddy bears

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue firefighters carry the teddy bears on fire appliances to support children affected by an incident

A fire service is looking for local knitters to create trauma teddies to give to children affected by an emergency situation.

Riding on fire engines alongside crews, the woolly bears are handed to young children following incidents including fires, crashes, floods and rescues.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the bears helped to comfort and reassure young children.

The little bears come in a bag with support information for parents and carers to help the child if needed.