This five bedroom home, located in Havant Road, Farlington, is the epitome of a perfect family home. With ample amounts of space, a large garden and three parking spaces, this home, which is on the market for £740,000, has so much to offer.

The listing says: “A spacious character 5 bedroom semi detached house arranged over 3 floors situated in this popular road in Farlington.

“Internal accommodation is adatable with the ground floor offering a 20ft drawing room, 25ft kitchen/breakfast room, separate dining room/library, feature conservatory and a downstairs cloakroom. On the first floor there are 4 bedrooms, a bathroom and an en-suite bathroom whilst on the top floor is the master bedroom with an en-suite/dressing room.”

For more information about this five bedroom semi-detached home, click here.

This five bedroom home, located in Havant Road, Farlington, is the epitome of a perfect family home. With ample amounts of space, a large garden and three parking spaces, this home, which is on the market for £740,000, has so much to offer.

The listing says: “A spacious character 5 bedroom semi detached house arranged over 3 floors situated in this popular road in Farlington.

“Internal accommodation is adatable with the ground floor offering a 20ft drawing room, 25ft kitchen/breakfast room, separate dining room/library, feature conservatory and a downstairs cloakroom. On the first floor there are 4 bedrooms, a bathroom and an en-suite bathroom whilst on the top floor is the master bedroom with an en-suite/dressing room.”

For more information about this five bedroom semi-detached home, click here.

This five bedroom home, located in Havant Road, Farlington, is the epitome of a perfect family home. With ample amounts of space, a large garden and three parking spaces, this home, which is on the market for £740,000, has so much to offer.

The listing says: “A spacious character 5 bedroom semi detached house arranged over 3 floors situated in this popular road in Farlington.

“Internal accommodation is adatable with the ground floor offering a 20ft drawing room, 25ft kitchen/breakfast room, separate dining room/library, feature conservatory and a downstairs cloakroom. On the first floor there are 4 bedrooms, a bathroom and an en-suite bathroom whilst on the top floor is the master bedroom with an en-suite/dressing room.”

For more information about this five bedroom semi-detached home, click here.

The Great British Rail Sale starts today(Tuesday January 14) and continues until Monday, January 20, with customers able to claim up to 50 per cent off selected Advance and Off-Peak rail tickets including tickets from South Western Railway (SWR).

SWR has 100,000 tickets for sale to more than 80 destinations on its network including Exeter, Weymouth, Winchester and Portsmouth.

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Top destinations include:

Winchester – see King Arthur’s legendary Round Table, with more pubs per head than anywhere in the UK (£9) Southampton – tour the Old Town and the Maritime Quarter and embark on cruises to exotic destinations worldwide (£9) Bournemouth – enjoy seven miles of award-winning sandy beach and a thriving Victorian coastal town (£12) Salisbury – discover the prehistoric mysteries of the world-famous Stonehenge monument and gaze up at one of the UK’s most magnificent cathedrals (£9) Portsmouth – climb aboard Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory and other iconic vessels at the Historic Dockyard, or hop on onward travel to the Isle of Wight (£9) Brockenhurst – step out at the largest village in the New Forest and encounter the enchanting local wildlife (£10) Poole – survey Europe's largest natural harbour, with the beautiful Sandbanks Beach nearby (£12) Weymouth – arrive at the gateway to the Jurassic Coast with stunning scenery and fossils waiting to be found (£13) Haslemere – explore the Surrey Hills National Landscape to the north and England’s newest national park, the South Downs National Park, to the south (£8) Andover – race over to Thruxton, the UK’s fastest motor sport circuit (£9)

Prices listed are for single journeys from London, but these prices also apply if you’re looking to take a trip to the capital for sightseeing, shopping or a theatre trip. Full details can be found here.

In addition to these great savings, SWR customers can turn their trip into a treat by claiming an SWR Reward, which could include a discount on attractions like the London Eye OR ZSL London Zoo, or a discounted lunch at restaurants including Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger. For more information on SWR Rewards, visit: southwesternrailway.com/rewards

Peter Williams, SWR’s Customer and Commercial Director said: “Once again, South Western Railway is delighted to be part of the Great British Rail Sale and to give our customers a chance to visit many of the outstanding destinations we serve, at a great discount.

“Whether it’s for a short break away or to visit family and friends, we look forward to welcoming customers old and new aboard our services as part of this great initiative.”

Sale tickets will be available from midnight on Tuesday, January 14 for journeys taking place between Friday, January 17 and Monday, March 31.

Only a limited number of tickets are available, and no further sale tickets will go on offer once sold out. For further inspiration, more fantastic destinations can be found on SWR’s website here.

Still & West, located in Bath Square, Old Portsmouth, is one of the most popular food and drink spots in the area - but it will be closed for the next few weeks.

The charming pub, which is known for its iconic views of the water, will be undergoing an ‘exciting’ refurbishment which will give the venue a ‘new look and feel’.

A spokesperson for Fuller, Smith and Turner said: “The Still & West in Old Portsmouth is currently shut for a refurbishment and is due to open on Sunday 9 February with an exciting new look and feel.”

Still & West’s menu features a combination of traditional pub classics and innovative dishes including pan-fried halibut with a chilli, fennel and mussel risotto.

The spokesperson for Fuller, Smith and Turner added: “The Still & West is a stunning Grade II listed pub with incredible views overlooking The Solent. As always, at The Still & West, you will find delicious food, accompanied by an upmarket drinks range and warm hospitality – all thanks to General Manager Daniel Bowen and his team.

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“On the ground floor, the cosy new-look bar area is the perfect spot to stop for a drink or two. While upstairs, the dining area and conservatory will be tastefully decorated with plenty of natural light and beautiful seaside views.

“The pub has fantastic function spaces perfect for any occasion – from wedding receptions to birthday parties and corporate events – and can be hired out as a whole venue for those extra special celebrations.”

For more information about Still and West in Portsmouth, click here.

The police have launched an appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage following a serious collision on the A303 which resulted in a major road closure.

Officers were called at 2:06pm yesterday (January 13) to a collision involving two HGV lorries on the westbound carriageway, near Popham Services.

One of the drivers, a man in his 30s, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital to receive treatment. The other driver was not injured.

The A303 was closed for several hours while the emergency services recovered the lorries involved before making the road safe for other road users. The road was closed until 2am this morning (January 14) while emergency services dealt with the incident.

A spokesperson for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, said: “We would like to thank you for your patience while the emergency services dealt with the incident and carried out enquiries.

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“As part of our investigation, we would like to hear from anyone who was in the area or witnessed the collision, the moments leading up to it or the aftermath.”

Anyone who saw what happened or has any information, including dashcam footage that may assist police enquiries, is asked to call 101 quoting the reference 44250017318.

For more information about the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, click here.

A mystery woman, known only as Mrs. F, from Hampshire, has won £1m on The National Lottery after matching five main numbers and the Bonus Ball in the Lotto draw on Saturday, November 30.

The lucky winner plans to invest the prize money for the future and treat her family. The Hampshire local, who played a personal selection of sentimental numbers has become one of over nine million players that win each week on The National Lottery’s range of games.

Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, said: “Amazing news for Mrs. F, who has become a million pounds richer overnight. Huge congratulations.”

Interactive winners have the opportunity to release their name, remain anonymous or like this winner, release some details through partial publicity.

For more information about The National Lottery, click here.

There were 132 lucky winners in Hampshire and Isle of Wight scooping up a combined prize total of £1,940,000 for high value prizes only - with three lucky people in Hampshire and Isle of Wight scooping up a big win of £100,000.

As well as the six-figure prize, 11 people in Hampshire and Isle of Wight won £50,000, 16 people won £25,000, and 36 people won £10,000. Of the 132 winners from Hampshire and Isle of Wight, the average holding amount of Premium Bonds was £39,524.

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The figures were revealed after CS2 Experts, CSDB.gg, analysed the latest data from National Savings and Investment (NS&I) after the winners of the December Premium Bonds prize draw were announced

At the national level, there were 1,393 winners of high value prizes for the month of December. In total £42,910,000 was won between 3,029 winners, with 2 people winning the £1m jackpot, 82 people winning £100,000, a further 163 winners scooping up £50,000, 328 securing £25,000, and 818 welcoming £10,000.

Speaking on the findings, Corey Sims, a spokesperson for CSDB.gg said: “With many people heading into the new year worried about finances, investing in Premium Bonds has alleviated these concerns for many families across the nation. Not only do they provide a unique opportunity for people to increase their savings without risking their initial investment, but also the chance to win large jackpots which can be life-changing.”

How to see if you've won on Premium Bonds

Prize draws are conducted every month and see prizes up to £1,000,000 given away.To find out if you have ever won a Premium Bonds prize, you will need to dig out your holder's information and head over to the prize checker.You will need your holder's number which you can find on your bond record, or in the app.You can also use your NS&I number which you should be able to find on any communication about your bonds.

You can check your account via the NS&I website.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has issued a fraud appeal following an incident in Springwood Avenue, Waterlooville, on December 17. The force said a man attended the address of a Facebook Marketplace seller to buy a phone.

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The male paid £500 in cash, which later turned out to be counterfeit notes. “Officers have been conducting enquiries and are now releasing this image of a man we would like to speak to,” police said.

“If you know his identity, saw anything suspicious in the area at the time, or have any dashcam or doorbell camera footage which could aid our investigation, please contact us. You can do this by calling 101, or by reporting online via the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website, quoting incident number 44240553080.”

Reports can also be submitted online via the police website. Anonymous reports can be made to the independent charity Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111.

National Highways is cllosing the A3 in both directions at 9pm on Friday, January 17 until 6am on Monday, January 20 to between the M25 junction 10 interchange and Send B2215/A247.

This is so it can install Cockcrow Bridge which will be the UK’s first heathland bridge as part of the massive works being carried out at the interchange used by drivers from the Hampshire area which is the busiest in the country.

Diversions are:

Southbound: the diversion route will be via Cobham, Chessington, Great Bookham and Effingham, rejoining the A3 at Send.Northbound: the diversion route will be via East Clandon, Effingham, Fetcham and then onto the M25 towards Wisley.

It is one of a number of closures which have taken place on the A3 and M25 as part of the huge three-year project due to be completed this summer.

For more details visit the National Highways website.

HMS Collingwood in Newgate Lane, Fareham, will be opening to the public once again on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The family event attracts thousands of people every year, with the public getting chance to go behind the scenes and see what life is like in the Royal Navy.

Captain Tim Davey, Commanding Officer of HMS Collingwood, said: ““We are looking forward to opening our gates to the public again this year for our annual Open Day. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the world class training delivered here in partnership with Team Fisher. We are also delighted to be able to support local businesses and charitable organisations, and engage with the wider community and naval families as a whole.”

The event showcases the annual Field Gun Competition, hosted for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. A range of crews from across the UK will compete for the coveted Brickwoods Trophy, with last year’s winner, HMS Seahawk, looking to retain the award.

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Other family-filled activities and displays are also planned to showcase the defence training which takes place at the base, and other aspects of serving in the Royal Navy and the armed forces. Interactive zones will allow people to get their hands on training equipment and experience some of the drills first-hand, including navigating a ship into harbour on a warship bridge simulator.

Other attractions include a military village, fairground rides including dodgems, a petting zoo in the children’s area with inflatable attractions and much more - all free of charge. Tickets will go on sale soon, with discounts available for Early Bird purchases. HMS Collingwood will open at 9.30am, with a free bus service being available from Fareham and Gosport and back.

Cpt Davey added: “Yet again we will be hosting the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity Field Gun competition, which offers excitement and fast paced entertainment for everyone, whilst demonstrating the core values of all our Service personnel.” Further details will be announced on the HMS Collingwood Facebook page.

Hampshire County Council Traffic & Travel (HCCTT) reported problems on the M3 northbound earlier this morning (January 14).

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Commuters were hit with delays between junction 13 for Eastleigh and junction 12 for Chandlers Ford.

Queuing traffic backed onto the M27 for a time. HCCTT originally reported the incident at 7.38am. After traffic was held, one lane was obstructed for roughly one hour.

HCCTT confirmed this has now all been cleared. “#M3 Northbound - all lanes now CLEARED between J13/A335 #Eastleigh and J12/A335 #ChandlersFord after an earlier incident, delays easing,” the traffic monitoring system reports.

A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokeswoman said the incident was a collision involving two cars, with no injuries reported.. Polcie were called to the scene at 7.10am.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said Riley, who was reported missing on Wednesday afternoon (January 8), has been discovered. He originally didn’t return home from school.

The force said Riley could still have been in the Fareham area, but also has links to Basingstoke in Hampshire and Coventry in the West Midlands.

They issued a missing persons appeal to find him. Police issued a statement on social media confirming that he has been found.

They said: “Thank you to everyone who shared our appeal to help find a 12-year-old boy from Fareham, who had been reported missing. We are pleased to say he has been located safe and well.”

The plane, due to enter service in 2035, is being developed with Italy and Japan under the global combat air programme (GCAP). MPs on the Commons Defence Committee acknowledged that progress so far had been positive but cautioned that previous projects with other countries had “seen costs spiral and delays pile up”.

The new aircraft is intended to be a multi-role aircraft to replace the RAF’s Typhoons as they leave service from the middle of the next decade. Committee chairman Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi said: “While today’s report welcomes GCAP, it also cautions that the MoD (Ministry of Defence) must have a firm grip on the programme.

“All too often multilateral defence programmes are beset with soaring costs and mounting delays. GCAP must break the mould.” The MPs pointed to the development of the Eurofighter Typhoon, alongside Italy, Germany and Spain, as an example of the problems that needed to be avoided.

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“A repeat of the structural failings which contributed to unnecessary delay and cost on the Eurofighter Typhoon would place the programme in jeopardy,” the committee’s report said. “We are encouraged that this imperative has been recognised by both the MoD and industry. It was clear from our visit to Italy that they, having also experienced the delays that had been caused on Typhoon, had drawn the same conclusions and meeting the 2035 target date is critical for Japan.”

The MPs noted that “with the defence budget under increasing pressure, it is incumbent on both Government and industry to keep tight control of costs as GCAP progresses”. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “The report rightly highlights the importance of GCAP for the UK’s military capabilities, economic growth and international partnerships, as well as the substantial progress being made.

“All GCAP partners are fully focused on the 2035 target date to deliver a world-leading combat aircraft, helping keep us ahead of new and evolving threats for decades to come.”

Maintenance in the Wimbledon area will affect services across the SWR network, with long-distance services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids, Portsmouth Harbour and Weymouth all being impacted.

The disruption, which is due to the renewal of 800 metres of track, ballast, and sleepers between Wimbledon and Earlsfield, will take place on January 18, 19, 25 and 26.

Engineers will also replace points, which are moveable sections of track that allow trains to move from one line to another, and install 100 meters of conductor rail, which powers trains.

Peter Williams, South Western Railway’s customer and commercial director, said: “Customers should plan ahead if they intend to travel on these weekends in January, as engineers carry out vital maintenance at one of the busiest parts of our network.

“There will be a large number of service changes, with rail replacement buses operating on our suburban routes, and with long-distance services revised and diverted. Diverted services will take around 30 minutes longer than usual, so customers should allow extra time when travelling.

“We are very sorry for the disruption and are very grateful for our customers’ patience.”

Direct trains will run to and from London Waterloo over these two weekends, however, they will take longer than usual.

The improvement works will result in a number of changes made to services. The changes are as follows:

Services between London Waterloo and Alton will start and finish their journeys at Woking, and on Sundays, these services will run hourly.Stopping services between London Waterloo and Basingstoke will start and finish their journeys at Woking. On Sundays, these services will run hourly. Services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will be revised and diverted, taking longer than normal. Some journeys will start and finish at Basingstoke. Services between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour via Guildford will be revised and diverted. Some services will start and finish their journeys at Woking. On Saturdays, services between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour via Eastleigh will run between Basingstoke and Portsmouth Harbour only. On Sundays, services will run between Eastleigh and Portsmouth Harbour only. Services between London Waterloo and Weymouth will be revised and diverted.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex Route Director, said: “There’s never a good time to close the railway, and I’m sorry we are impacting passengers in the Wimbledon area over consecutive weekends.

“We’ve worked hard to find the least disruptive window to deliver these essential engineering works. However, completing the upgrades back-to-back is the most efficient and cost-effective option for the taxpayer.”

For more information about the South Western Railway, click here.

The A303 is closed westbound between the M3 and the A34 following a serious crash. National Highways has confirmed that emergency services are at the scene and delays are expected to last for ‘several hours’.

National Highways wrote: “The A303 in Hampshire is closed westbound between the M3 (North Waltham, near Basingstoke), and the A34 (Bullington Cross) due to a collision resulting in a HGV crossing from one side of the carriageway to the other.

“Hampshire Police are on scene along with National Highways Traffic Officers.

Initially, the road was closed in both directions however traffic travelling eastbound is being 'off and on' the A303 near Micheldever Station.

“The incident is expected to be protracted and in place for several hours due to complex recovery and central reservation barrier damage.”

For more information about the crash, click here.

The A303 is closed in both directions between the M3 and the A34 following a crash. National Highways has confirmed that emergency services are at the scene of the crash and delays are expected to last for ‘several hours’.

National Highways wrote: “The A303 in Hampshire is closed in both directions between the M3 (North Waltham, near Basingstoke), and the A34 (Bullington Cross) due to a collision resulting in a HGV crossing from one side of the carriageway to the other.

“Hampshire Police are on scene along with National Highways Traffic Officers. The incident is expected to be protracted and in place for several hours.”

For more information about the crash, click here.

Police were contacted in May of last year by a woman who reported that a 45-year-old, James Renfree, had been stalking and threatening her.

Police were told that Renfree, of Southampton Road in Titchfield, had warned the woman he’d be at her address within an hour, and threatened her with violence.

Renfree had sent the woman hundreds of emails with threats to attend her home, burn her mother’s house down, and shoot the woman’s partner.

He turned up at her home address in Fareham on May 4, 2024, and made further threats to shoot her partner.

Two days later, Renfree attended the address again before entering the back garden and damaging a BBQ and glass tables. He was armed with a hammer at the time and continued to shout threats at the victims.

DC Ethan Beesley said: “This was a terrifying campaign of stalking perpetrated by Renfree, who continuously made threats and turned up at the address of the victims, making them fear he would carry out these threats.

“His behaviour was shocking. No-one should have to live in such fear and suffer such levels of harassment and abuse.”

Renfree was charged with stalking involving fear of violence, which he admitted when he appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on November 4, 2024.

Appearing at the same court for sentencing on Friday, January 10 of this year, Renfree was jailed for 16 months and handed a 10 year restraining order.

DC Beesley added: “We take allegations of stalking incredibly seriously, and encourage anyone who has been affected by this type of behaviour to please contact police on 101, where you can speak to a police officer in confidence. Dial 999 in the event of an emergency or if a crime is ongoing.”

To get in contact with the police about a stalking incident, click here.

For more information about the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, click here.

Lord Vernon Coaker, Labour, said the deployment of HMS Prince of Wales will be the perfect reaction to Beijing bolstering its defences and air capabilities. The issue surrounding security in the region was debated in the House of Lords last Friday (January 10).

Lord Alton of Liverpool, crossbench, said: “On December 26, the People’s Republic of China announced two new aircraft, one as a three-engine stealth bomber and another which was described as a ‘mother ship for drones’. What account are we taking of the development of that fleet, in terms of our own security?”

In response, Lord Coaker said: “The noble lord knows the policy in respect to China in terms of co-operating, competing and challenging. I believe very strongly that as well as competing and co-operating, we need to challenge, whether that is at home or abroad. We’ve looked at the implications for our own defence and that of our allies with respect to the development in China.

“Across the world, the power of ourselves and that of our international allies including the United States will be reflected with the Carrier Strike Group that will not only go into the Mediterranean but also the Indo-Pacific. That will be about asserting the rule of law.”

HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy’s flagship, will take charge of the UK Carrier Strike Group in the Spring of this year. The operation will see sailors take part in Exercise Talisman Sabre alongside Australia and other navies, as well as hold diplomatic duties with Japan and other countries in the region.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer previously called for increased patrols in the Indo-Pacific during a visit to Samoa in October 2024, stating the country could not turn a blind eye to the challenges facing UK allies on the other side of the world. In response to an earlier question in the House of Lords from Lord Anderson of Swansea, Lord Coaker said: “There is an indivisibility of conflict. What happens in the Indo-Pacific affects us in Europe.

“What happens in Europe affects us in the Indo-Pacific. You go anywhere in the world, those who stand with us in the defence of freedom understand there is an indivisibility of that conflict. That’s what we need to stand for, and it’s really important as a country that we be one of the leaders of that.”

Starbucks, in Whiteley Shopping Centre, has announced that it will be closed to customers over the next few weeks. The closure is a result of the coffee shop undergoing a refurbishment.

The Whiteley Facebook said: “Please note: Starbucks is closed temporarily for the next few weeks for refurbishment. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Stay tuned for their exciting upgrades.”

For more information about the Starbucks in Whiteley, click here.

The incident happened at around 7am on Monday, January 13, with police called to Petersfield Railway Station after receiving reports of a casualty on the tracks. When police attended with paramedics, the person was pronounced dead at the scene.

A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called to the line near Petersfield railway station at around 7:02am today (13 January) following reports of a casualty on the tracks. Paramedics also attended, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner”

National Rail have confirmed that all lines have now been reopened following the incident. A spokesperson said: “The emergency services have safely completed their work and trains are now running normally between Haslemere and Havant. “

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Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to face it alone. Call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email [email protected] or visit www.samaritans.org for more information.

The joint proposal comes from Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council, and Southampton City Council, which together represent over 2m residents, 90,000 businesses, and a GDP of nearly £80bn.

The councils say the region is a "national and international economic powerhouse" with significant potential to drive growth, innovation, and productivity.

The bid outlines plans to create a combined authority for the area, elect a regional mayor, and secure financial backing to fast-track economic and social development.

Plans for local government reorganisation

As part of the submission, the councils plan to present outline proposals on local government reorganisation to the government in March, with detailed plans expected in the autumn. The councils are also asking the government to postpone the May 2025 elections for Hampshire County Council and Isle of Wight Council to ensure stability during the devolution process.

Portsmouth City Council view

Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council, emphasised the importance of acting now to secure a deal that benefits the region.

“We have always wanted to bring greater powers down from Westminster to our area through devolution and despite the circumstances surrounding this, I’m pleased this secured cross-party support in Portsmouth,” he said.

Cllr Pitt acknowledged that while Portsmouth had initially opposed the idea of an elected mayor, the decision to move forward was necessary to avoid government-imposed arrangements.

“Separately, government’s new policies around local government reorganisation – insisting Portsmouth expands to a population of 500,000 – are a major concern for us and it seems the devolution priority programme will at least give us additional time to properly negotiate any new arrangements with the government and local partners.

“We have been clear that we will make the case for Portsmouth to be left alone and not forced into a new larger council with our neighbours.”

Financial benefits and risks

Cllr Pitt highlighted the financial advantages of joining the priority programme, including access to government funding to cover devolution costs. In contrast, he warned that areas not included in the programme might face taxpayer-funded costs if combined authorities are imposed later.

The councils hope that by securing a spot in the priority programme, they can achieve the benefits of devolution while shaping their future governance arrangements in a way that works best for the region.

They have told how Sullivan Stapleton's death in the early hours of December 16, 2023 'just doesn't make sense.'

His parents, Nadia and Marty, found Sullivan unresponsive in his bed at their home in Emsworth. The toddler, known to his family as Sully, was rushed to Queen Alexandra in Cosham, Portsmouth, where professionals tried to regain his circulation but ‘despite resuscitation attempts’, he died.

Today (January 13), an inquest, at the Portsmouth Coroner’s Court, heard how his cause of death remains unknown.

Area coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp delivered an open verdict as she did not deem there to be enough evidence to determine how he died.

Marty told the inquest: “I put him to bed and he was fine, he was laughing and joking, he was being his normal cheeky self and within four hours, he was gone. We are now left withthis massive, massive gaping hole in our family - It just doesn’t make sense.”

Mrs Rhodes-Kemp told the court that a post mortem revealed "nothing at all to imply why he may have died" but that previous incidents could have played a role in his death.

She said: “We will never know. It’s no one’s fault. It couldn’t have been avoided.

“This is a sudden unexplained death in childhood - the conclusion is natural causes but I don’t personally feel like I can put natural causes down because we don’t have enough evidence to confirm his cause of death.”

Nadia and Marty took Sully, along with his three sisters, to Disneyland Paris in November 2023. During the holiday, Sully’s temperature spiked and he began having a febrile fit - seizure that occurs in children with a fever but no other serious health issues - which led him to be admitted to a hospital in Paris.

Mrs Rhodes-Kemp said: “Sometimes there just isn’t an answer and in this case, there doesn’t seem to be an obvious answer but I do agree that it poses the question whether it was the same thing in December.”

Following a post mortem, the paediatric pathologist Dr Samantha Holden, said in her report that in her opinion ‘the cause of death may be sudden unexplained death in childhood.’

The post mortem revealed that there was nothing ‘untoward’ discovered and there was nothing reported that could have led to his death.

Nadia said: “The pain we have as parents finding him completely unresponsive and not knowing how long he was like that for is the hardest thing because we don’t know if he suffered, or was in pain or how long he was like that.”

Marty added: “We didn’t get a chance to fight for him and that’s no one’s fault but we never got that chance.

“As a dad, he was my best friend, he was my shadow and now it is just so difficult to know there is no reason for this. It comes with its challenges and without our three daughters I don’t know where we would be.

“As parents, losing a child is the hardest thing imaginable but seeing the pain we see in our three daughters, that’s part of this that we can never quantify - I know we want answers for ourselves but we want answers for them as well.“

Following Sully’s death, a GoFundMe page was set up to pay for the funeral and alleviate the pressure on the family. As a result, the fundraiser raised £16,395 and more than 600 people donated to try and help.

HMS Oardacious’ all-female Valkyries team are in the midst of taking on a 3,000 mile voyage from The Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean. The team of four Royal Navy personnel - Lieutenant Commander Izzy Rawlinson, Petty Officer Aaby Aldridge, Lieutenant Commander Ali Aindow and Lieutenant Commander Nic Hall - began their expedition on December 12.

Having spent nearly a month at sea and progressing well, the team announced on Instagram on January 9 that worsening conditions and other factors meant they would be finishing later than planned.

PO Aldridge, of Gosport, said: “We’ve had a bit of a reality check that due to weather and just what it’s been like this year, we’re not going to be coming in in around 40 days, which we all had our minds set on. Due to the weather, and just not having those strong trade winds that we hoped for, it’s going to be significantly longer.”

The sailor said the team are having to look after their bodies moving forward, battling against the weather conditions to finish - aches, sores and pains building up due to the high physical demands. She added that the delay has been mentally draining for the crew to deal with, and it has been testing to push on. Despite the setbacks, PO Aldridge said she and her teammates are continuing to stay positive.

“After this challenge, we’re only going to remember the good days over the bad. So if we’re going to spend a bit longer at sea, let’s make sure they’re good days. We’re definitely feeling how this is going to affect us in the long run. We all have jobs that we need to get back to. We’re fully aware of the constraint and stress that we have put on our workplace while we’ve been away. We’re all concerned about trying to get back to work.”

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PO Aldridge said the delay could cause the crew’s families to miss the finish line in the Caribbean. “Our family and friends are hoping to come to Antigua,” she added. “This delay could cause them not to be able to come. That’s the big finish for us. Knowing that they’re there is such a huge drive to finish.

“The thought that they have commitments which means they can’t come is a huge thing we’re trying to push through. We’re all doing really well. We’re talking. We’re pushing through. Hoping to come back with a bit more of a sun tan if we’re spending a bit longer here. We are okay and we are loving all the support from back home. It means so much to us. Please keep following and we’re super grateful.”

The Royal Navy crew are pushing themselves to the limit to raise vital funds for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, as well as the Young Women’s Trust - which supports females from 18-30 on little pay. As well as dealing with huge waves, salt sores and sleep deprivation, the crew have had to eat 5,200 calories a day to be able to fuel themselves across hundreds of miles. Latest updates show the rowing team have made more progress, but the team got caught in a weather system and needed to drop their para anchor to stop them from being blown backwards. A few hours later, they were able to continue, and see freshwater dolphins while on their travels. A link to their donation page can be found here.

A representative from the Nautilus International union stated that Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel were being asked to cut their time off short to plug gaps in deployments. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a new pay deal with union members last week, with officers and lower rates securing an above-inflation wage bump.

Stagnant salaries was not the only issue discussed by sailors during demonstrations in Portsmouth last year. Martyn Gray, director of organising at Nautilus International, previously told The News that staff shortages for deployments, often scheduled to support the Royal Navy on various missions, were commonplace and sailors were being “harassed” to go back to sea as a result.

“It reaches a point where they no longer can do it,” he said. “People are driving themselves into illness because of the way they are working within the RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary).”

He added: “They are constantly doing sea appointments and being away from their friends and family for extended long periods of time, with the stress and strain that goes along with that. That leave is space for them to get decompression time, so when they go back to work they can focus on it because they’ve had time away from the job. Constantly asking people to come back without having their full leave is increasing the stress and burnout.”

Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said during a tour of RFA Proteus in Portsmouth that the reforms for the RFA would go well beyond just raising their wages. Issues regarding recruitment and retention, annual leave and other topics are set to be addressed. He told The News: “For the last decade, morale has been falling across our armed forces. That’s not sustainable and that’s not acceptable.

“When we speak as a new government that we want to renew the contract between the nation and those who serve, the easiest way of assessing if that’s working or not has been morale. That’s only one criteria, how people feel about their service, whether they want to join and stay, and importantly, whether people want to re-join. The RFA is one of those careers where we have seen people service for long periods of time, leave and then re-join. That’s something we want to make easier for all our armed forces.

“I don’t think the RFA has had the attention it has deserved in the past. We have some brilliant people working there. I want to address the impression that they’re not valued enough. The RFA is absolutely critical for the nation’s defence. With the resolution of the pay dispute, I hope we can look to further improve terms and conditions, and the ability of the RFA to support the UK’s national security.”

Fareham Borough Council’s housing scrutiny panel heard about the latest on the authority’s housing projects at a recent meeting.

The current sites being worked on are Assheton Court, Ophelia Court and 51a Bellfield, along with the former Birks site at 130-136 West Street and Sea Lane being under development.

Work at Assheton Court in Portchester, which will provide 60 sheltered housing flats for social rent, started in October and is expected to finish in Summer 2026.

The council officer said work on site by Feltham Construction is progressing with drainage work progressing and a work on replacing, a larger, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks substation is expected to start by the end of January.

The former site of 20 sheltered housing flats will be replaced with 60 one and two-bedroom flats in a new, purpose-built, affordable housing development for the over 55s. The council received £7,560,000 of grant funding from the Homes England Affordable Homes programme to enable the council to offer the homes at social rent.

Ophelia Court in Sarisbury Green is a council shared ownership scheme. It is expected to complete at the end of January when there will be an opening ceremony and sales are going well there too, said the council officer.

The former scout hut site in Montefiore Drive has nine shared ownership homes, five one-bedroom and four, two-bedroom flats.

51a Bellfield in Titchfield will be an affordable rent house and is expected to be handed over in February, said the council officer. The new three-bedroom, five-person home is being built by Daintree Developments Ltd.

Future sites under development

The former Birks building at 130-136 West Street, Fareham, is moving forward with early design ideas that will go out for community consultation, said the council officer.

The council officer updated the members with a timeline schedule of the next step for the four self-build homes at Sea Lane, Stubbington. The schedule said reserved plots for completion of sale should happen between winter 2025 to spring 2026.

The regeneration site at Redbout Court, Fort Fareham, is an eight-home project and work has started to assess what is possible on the site. An architect brief and procurement are expected to happen in the next few months.

Officers are working with residents of Melvin Jones House, Fareham, to find them suitable alternative accommodation before looking at the future of the sheltered housing site. Five residents have already moved out, said the councillor officer. The council officer also said a report and plans to change the process of disposing of and acquiring one-off council homes will be presented to the executive in February.

The man in his 30s suffered a serious injury to his hip when he was hit at around 11.50pm on Tuesday, January 7, outside the shell garage on the Eastern Road in Portsmouth. It has now been confirmed that the police car was responding to a concern for welfare of a man in the area.

A Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesperson advised that the car was “responding to a concern for welfare of a man at the location”, before adding, “the investigation is ongoing so we are unable to comment on any further details or potential outcomes at this stage”.

Hampshire police have referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct to be investigated. Following the incident, police appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

A spokesperson said: “ We would like to speak to anyone who witnessed this collision. In particular there were a white van and black car in the area at the time, the occupants of which may have information which could assist our investigation. Anyone with information or relevant dash cam or CCTV footage should call 101 quoting reference 44250009208.”

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Updates on the project to build Type 32 vessels continue to remain few and far between. Officials from the ongoing Strategic Defence Review, called by the government to analyse the priorities for the UK’s national security and the resources all three armed forces need, are now looking over the programme.

As previously reported in The News, Luke Pollard, armed forces minister, confirmed the scheme is still ongoing and has not been cancelled. Conservative politician David Reed, MP for Exmouth and Exeter East, asked the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in parliamentary written questions about the timeline of when the Type 32 warships will be built and what stages of the concept phase have been completed.

Minister of defence procurement, Maria Eagle, responded: “The Type 32 frigate programme is in the concept phrase and has not yet reached the level of maturity to allow publication of a specific timetable for design and procurement. This is consistent with a programme of this size and complexity at this early stage in its development.

“All future designs of the Royal Navy will be part of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) so would be inappropriate to provide further detail until SDR decisions have been made.”

The frigate programme was originally announced in November 2020 under then prime minister Boris Johnson. This was part of a £16.2bn financial deal which announced the construction of Type 26 and Type 31 frigates to bolster the Royal Navy fleet. The exact role and make-up of the Type 32 vessels is yet to be officially announced.

Other shipbuilding programmes are progressing at a steady rate. Type 31 Inspiration-class vessels, which will have a general purpose role and be asked to carry out a range of operations, are all scheduled to be into service by the early 2030s. The Type 26 City-class frigates, that will mainly focus on hunting submarines, are forecast to achieve operational capability in 2028 - entering service between 2028 and 2035.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is ‘considering’ ending TV licence fee, according to reports. It could be replaced by a ‘new tax’. The current BBC royal charter is up at the end of 2027.

A radical reform of the way that the BBC is funded could be on the way. The public broadcaster’s current royal charter runs out at the end of 2027 - and discussions are underway for the future of the Beeb.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is reportedly considering ‘scrapping’ the licence fee when the charter is renewed. It has previously been reported that she is also planning to end prosecutions for licence fee avoidance.

The Government has confirmed a further price rise for the licence fee this year. The cost will jump up in April 2025 - find out more here.

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Government ‘consider’ scrapping BBC licence fee

The BBC’s funding is laid out as part of its royal charter - with the licence fee dating back to the 20th century. The current agreement comes to an end in December 2027 and discussions for the future are already underway.

The Daily Mail reports that among the plans being considered by the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, is the hotly-debated licence fee. It reports that the TV licence could be scrapped post 2027.

Ms Nandy is said to “be minded to abolish the annual fee”. It would be one of the biggest shake-ups to the BBC over its 100 years of existence.

The licence fee is due to go up in April 2025 - with a rise of £5 having been confirmed, taking the payment to £174.50 annually for Brits. It is also expected that the cost of the TV licence will go up in 2026 and 2027.

How would the BBC be funded if the licence fee is scrapped?

The Daily Mail reports that one source said: “Lisa does not believe that the licence fee is financially sustainable. But she believes that our national broadcaster should be owned by the nation.

“The money would go in from taxes but citizens would own it and be involved in decisions about its strategic direction.”

It would mean that the BBC would be funded by tax, instead of a direct licence fee that TV watchers have to pay annually.

What do you think of the licence fee potentially being scrapped? Let me know by email: [email protected].

Emergency services were scrambled to the Brewers Fayre area of Southsea, west of Clarence Pier, yesterday morning (January 12). Coastguard, paramedics, firefighters, lifeboat volunteers and an air ambulance were all deployed.

HM Coastguard confirmed the individual was recovered from the water and brought to safety. A spokesperson said: “At around 7.30am on Sunday, January 12, HM Coastguard was alerted to reports of a casualty west of Clarence Pier in Portsmouth.

“Coastguard Rescue Teams from Portsmouth and Hayling were called, alongside Hayling RNLI lifeboat, South Central Ambulance Service, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. The casualty was rescued in a combined operation by all services on scene.”

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Lifeboat crews from Hayling Island were also called to Southsea. A statement on its Facebook page published yesterday said: “The Atlantic 85 launched at 8am this morning to reports a person had fallen from a wall near Clarence Pier at Southsea.

“Whilst on the way to the given location the person was reported to have been recovered and in the safe hands of the Coastguard on scene. The lifeboat was stood down and returned to the station and made ready for further service.”

After being brought to safety, medical personnel swiftly took the male to hospital. A spokesman from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance said: “Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance confirmed that the air ambulance team of a doctor and a specialist paramedic was deployed by helicopter to an incident in Southsea on Sunday, January 12. Following treatment on scene a patient was airlifted to hospital by air ambulance for further treatment.”

A spokesman from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) added: “Southsea crews were called to Long Curtain Road shortly before 8am yesterday. A man was rescued from the beach before he was passed into the care of South Central Ambulance Service paramedics. The stop message came in at 8.06am.”

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

The Stubbington 10k has been a fixture on runners’ calendars for a number of years due to its fast course and pretty route. It was another well attended event on Sunday, January 12, which started in Stubbington Village and took in a coastal route through Marine Parade West, Salterns Road and Hill Head Road before returning to the village for the finish.

Abdi Mohamed Elni crossed the finish line first in an impressive 29 minutes. He was followed by other elite runners, those doing it for charity, or just for fun. Earlier in the day there was a kids fun run which kickstarted the spectacle of running.

Click here to find out about The News’ free emails and get the headlines delivered to your inbox

Here are 43 fabulous pictures of the Stubbington 10k:

Devolution has become a pressing issue as councils nationwide decide whether to adopt new proposals from the Labour government.

Local government in Hampshire

Hampshire currently operates under a two-tier system, alongside unitary authorities.

The two-tier system includes Hampshire County Council as the upper-tier authority and district and borough councils, such as Gosport, Fareham, and Havant, as the second tier.

Each tier has distinct responsibilities. The county council manages services like roads, transport, adult social care, and children's services, while district and borough councils handle areas such as housing, planning, and waste collection.

Unitary authorities, such as Portsmouth and Southampton city councils, oversee all local services.

What is devolution?

Devolution involves transferring powers from central government to local authorities, enabling them to make decisions and manage services directly affecting their communities.

It can include powers over transport, housing, education, healthcare, and local economic development.

Devolution proposals

On December 17, 2024, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government published its English Devolution White Paper, outlining plans for decentralising power.

The government proposes creating strategic authorities—areas with populations around 1.5m—led by directly elected mayors. These mayors could have authority over transport, housing growth, skills and employment, energy policy, as well as influence over investment and funding.

Local government reorganisation (LGR)

The government also plans to replace the two-tier system with larger unitary authorities by merging councils together. These new authorities would need populations of at least 500,000.

The white paper suggests this will result in "fewer politicians" and a more "effective state”.

For Portsmouth, this could mean joining neighbouring boroughs such as Fareham, Gosport, and Havant and potentially others.

Response and criticism

The council administration supports devolution if it focuses on the Solent geography, but the government has ruled this out, citing its failure to meet the 1.5m population requirement. Instead, the government favours a single strategic authority covering all of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Liberal Democrat leaders criticised this approach during a cabinet meeting, highlighting economic and cultural differences between the Solent and north Hampshire.

The white paper justifies replacing the two-tier system with larger unitary authorities to address failure and improve efficiency. Portsmouth leaders, however, questioned why their city, unlike other councils facing sustainability issues, is included in these proposals.

Government ministers argued that Portsmouth is too small to stand alone and must join LGR discussions. A council report countered this, noting that many smaller London boroughs and unitaries are not subject to LGR.

Next steps

Portsmouth and Southampton city councils, along with Hampshire County Council and Isle of Wight Council, have agreed to join the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).

This DPP allows the authorities to negotiate their preferred reorganisation with the government and local partners, with a decision not expected until next autumn. If chosen for the DPP, public consultations are expected to launch in February 2025.

Tony Moulson, 65, has worked as a refuse collector for 45 years with Portsmouth City Council, and he is about to leave to take retirement.

The 65-year-old has seen some huge changes across the industry as well as the landscapes of Portsmouth during his time and he will be leaving his mark on his team as he begins his retirement.

His team have celebrated his work over the years by contributing to his leaving present which is a guided tour of the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio tour.

Richard Tebbutt, business manager, said: ‘There are guys here that have done 20 years, we have got a few that are in their 70s and I think that is amazing.

‘There is job security here. I think that is what the guys like and there is a big sense of camaraderie, there is a work force of 90 here.’

Tony has worked with various teams during his time with Biffa, and said that the main attraction to the job originally was the flexibility with hours and that when he had a young family it meant that he could finish work when he completed his rounds making it easier at home.

Tony said: ‘There has been a slight change since I started here. I started in September 1977 on a temporary contract and I have been here ever since. Lorries have got bigger and crews have got smaller.

‘There are still areas that I have never been down. The problem was for 35 years I just did north of the city so anything south of Hilsea didn’t exist. They had it easy down there, they didn’t have the hills.

‘There have been so many good memories over the years. I can remember walking down when they brought the Mary Rose up, so yes it has been good.’

Chris Smith, the ex-business manager of the site, said: ‘They do about 15,000 steps a day and he has probably covered the equivalent of every house in Portsmouth.

‘He has always been massively reliable, he has always been a great worker and someone like Tony never lets us down. He is a shining example for the younger generation of what hard work looks like and how to do the job. It is a brilliant service over the years.’

Richard worked out that with the average number of steps that Tony has taken per round, during his career he has walked the equivalent of circling the world three times.

Tony said that he wants to take up swimming when it gets warmer and that he will also be going for walks and spending time with his wife.

David Emmett, head of waste services, said: ‘It is amazing that he has been able to put in such a service for the city for such a long time. It is absolutely amazing.

‘It is a well deserved time to put his feet up after all of that walking.’