Summary

  • Cowes chain ferry breaks down a day after new service begins

  • Woman dies in four-car crash in Dorset

  • Man dies two months after Dorchester crash

  • Call for cars to be banned from centre of Oxford after cyclist death

  • Royal Berkshire Hospital affected by global cyber-attack

  • Updates from Monday 15 May

  1. Ever-present Cook 'to keep improving'published at 14:56 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Bournemouth defender Steve Cook will strive to keep improving even after a player of the year award-winning season.

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  2. Woman accosts May over carer supportpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    A woman with learning difficulties has accosted Theresa May while the prime minister was on a walkabout in an Oxfordshire market.

     "I'm angry because I've no carer," she told Mrs May.

  3. Cowes Floating Bridge: Manufacturers confident of improvementpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    We've spoken to the manufacturer of the Cowes Floating Bridge which broke down on Sunday. Cars were also filmed scraping their bumpers while disembarking the new vessel.

    Managing director of Pembroke-based Mainstay Marine Stewart Graves said the new vessel was still in a "shakedown" period with engineering work and staff training continuing before the official handover next month.

    Sunday's breakdown was blamed on a a "minor electrical fault" which has been fixed.

    Floating Bridge
  4. 'Chemical fumes poison mortuary staff'published at 14:28 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Three mortuary workers, on sick leave since February, are likely to have been poisoned by fumes from chemicals in poorly-designed drains, a Bournemouth council report says.

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  5. LIVE: Prime Minister Theresa May campaigning in Oxfordshirepublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Watch LIVE: The latest on the general election campaign.

    Prime Minister Theresa May has been out and about in Oxfordshire, where she got a mixed reception from some locals.

    Put your questions and comments to Political Correspondent Vicki Young.

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  6. Calls to return Reading philanthropist's statue to Broad Streetpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Emma Midgley
    BBC South

    The statue of George PalmerImage source, Henry Taunt

    A petition calling for a statue of biscuit magnate George Palmer to be returned to Reading town centre has gathered hundreds of signatures. 

    George Palmer was co-founder of Reading company Huntley & Palmers, one of the largest biscuit manufacturers in the world in the late 1800s. 

    Reading was known as 'Biscuit Town' until production ceased in 1970.

    The unveiling of the statue in Broad StreetImage source, Reading Borough Libraries

    A devout Quaker and philanthropist, Mr Palmer gifted Palmer Park to Reading and served as the town's mayor and MP. 

    The Grade II listed memorial was moved from Broad Street to Palmer Park in the 1930s as it was impeding traffic. 

    The road is now pedestrianised and Reading blogger Peter Robinson has launched a campaign to re-instate it.

    The council said it could not comment as it was yet to receive the petition.  

    Quote Message

    George Palmer loved Reading. He donated land for recreation and started a school. It's not in an unsuitable location now, as he donated the land for Palmer Park, but he deserves to have pride of place in the most prominent part of town.

    Peter Robinson, Reading blogger

  7. Cowes Floating Bridge: Council statement on weekend problemspublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    The Isle of Wight Council has released a statement on the new floating bridge which has been suspended after it broke down on Sunday, a day after its first crossing carrying vehicles and passengers between Cowes and East Cowes:

    "The electrical fault that caused issues on Sunday has since been identified and fixed. 

    "It was anticipated that during the first couple of weeks, that there would be a few minor issues to be ironed out, some of which could not be identified until the vessel was back in service and in full use.

    "During the preceding week, the new vessel underwent testing, including trips across the river Medina, embarkation and disembarkation with vehicles.

    "We would encourage all vehicle users to drive slowly on to and off of the floating bridge." 

    Chain Ferry
  8. 'The pilot was clearly in control'published at 13:26 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    BBC reporter Charlotte Westgate, who witnessed yesterday's crash landing at the Abingdon Air and Country Show, has said the pilot "should be applauded".

    Organisers said the man was conscious after a "safe crash landing" and was taken to hospital shortly after 14:30 BST.   

    crashed planeImage source, Anthony Morris

    Ms Westgate said the aircraft "got very close to the ground and then hit the ground with quite a thud. The wheels hadn't been down. The pilot was clearly in control, he knew what he was doing." 

    The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has confirmed it has launched an inquiry into what caused the crash.

  9. Fire breaks out at fire stationpublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Alresford Fire Station

    A fault with a drying cupboard heater is blamed for the fire in the unoccupied building.

    Fire breaks out at fire station

    A fault with a drying cupboard heater is blamed for the fire in the unoccupied building.

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  10. Marathon man finishes 44 runs in 44 dayspublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Peter Thompson at the end of his challenge in DublinImage source, MarathonsfortheMind

    Peter Thompson, from Bournemouth, completed each run in a different country.

    Marathon man finishes 44 runs in 44 days

    Peter Thompson, from Bournemouth, completed each run in a different country.

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  11. May makes workers' rights pledgepublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Theresa May has promised a "new deal for workers" if the Conservatives win the general election.

    On a visit to Oxford, the Prime Minister promised to keep all workers' rights currently guaranteed by EU law, put worker representation on company boards and protect pensions.

    Theresa MayImage source, AFP / Getty

    Labour said Mrs May was "taking working people for fools" while Liberal Democrat Vince Cable said it was "clear they aren't the party of workers' rights".

    Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley described the Conservatives' pitch to workers as "almost laughable".

  12. Stam expects another Fulham challengepublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Reading boss Jaap Stam expects Fulham to pose another tough challenge in their play-off semi-final second leg.

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  13. Cowes Floating Bridge suspended ... againpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Briony Leyland
    BBC South Today

    After resuming crossings earlier this morning, the new Cowes chain ferry has been suspended.

    It suffered a technical fault on Sunday - a day after its first crossings carrying passengers and cars.

    Chain ferry
  14. Jane Austen artefacts go on show in Winchesterpublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    An exhibition marking the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's death has gone on display in Winchester.

    Jane Austen portraitImage source, National Portrait Gallery London/PA Wire

    It features writings from the novelist's teenage years and the original ending she wrote for her book Persuasion. 

    About 80 items are on display, including artwork, letters, clothing and portraits - including one not seen in public for more than 40 years, 

    The exhibition takes place at The Gallery in Winchester Discovery Centre - a few miles from Austen's birthplace of Steventon - until 24 July.

    Jane Austen portraitImage source, National Portrait Gallery London/PA Wire
  15. Sangakkara ton guides Surrey to victorypublished at 11:39 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Kumar Sangakkara's unbeaten 124 helps Surrey to beat Hampshire and keep alive their One-Day Cup qualification hopes.

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  16. The boss who lives as a medieval knightpublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Jason Kingsley, the boss of games firm Rebellion, lives his life according to the rules of a medieval knight's chivalric code of honour.

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  17. Prime Minister visits Oxfordpublished at 10:44 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Theresa May is on a general election campaign visit to Oxford.

    The Prime Minister has been talking to staff at TechPixies, a group which runs skills courses for mothers who want to return to work.

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  18. Fire station damaged in blazepublished at 10:19 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Emergency crews were called to tackle a blaze at one of their own fire stations, external

    Fire broke out in the drying room at Alresford Fire Station - a retained station - on Sunday morning. 

    It is thought the blaze was caused by a fault with the drying cupboard heater on the ground floor. 

    Alresford Fire StationImage source, Google

    No one was injured in the incident but the building, which is also used by Hampshire Constabulary, was left without power.

    Back-up generators have been brought in to enable police and fire crews to continue working as normal.

  19. Bumpy start for Cowes floating bridgepublished at 09:58 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    Video footage shows cars scraping the slipway as they disembarked from the Cowes chain ferry on Saturday - its first day in service. 

    The £4.6m Floating Bridge replaced on old vessel that had crossed between Cowes and East Cowes for 40 years. 

    However, with excited crowds gathered to watch the first crossing, cars with low front bumpers appeared to struggle to disembark without striking the vehicle ramp.

    Media caption,

    Car bumpers scraped on Cowes floating bridge

  20. Cowes Floating Bridge returns to servicepublished at 09:26 British Summer Time 15 May 2017

    The new Cowes Floating Bridge is back in service after breaking down yesterday - a day after its launch.

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