Weekly round-up: Five stories you may have missed

15 hours ago

Karol Swiacki and Marc Edwards survived a missile strike on the hotel they were staying at in Kryvyi Rih

Karol Swiacki Karol Swiacki and March Edwards crouching in front of their destroyed vehicles — Karol Swiacki and Marc Edwards survived a missile strike on the hotel they were staying at in Kryvyi Rih

The dramatic story about how a Dorset aid worker narrowly escaped a deadly Russian missile attack on a hotel in central Ukraine was among our most read stories this week.

We have picked five articles from the past seven days in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Berkshire and Oxfordshire to keep you up to date.

BBC South Today presenter Sally Taylor retires

BBC bosses described Sally Taylor as a "talented broadcaster and brilliant journalist"

Sally Taylor standing next to a red South Today banner in the TV studio — BBC bosses described Sally Taylor as a "talented broadcaster and brilliant journalist"

BBC news presenter and journalist Sally Taylor announced she will leave the regional news programme she has hosted for almost four decades.

The broadcasting legend joined South Today in 1987 having previously worked at Spotlight, the regional news programme for the south west of England.

It is believed she is the longest-serving female presenter of a flagship regional television news programme and will present her last show on 20 March.

Seal filmed 'wrestling' with large eel

Biology teacher Dr Jeremy Rowe filmed the seal near Portland Bill

This video of seal "wrestling" a large eel for its lunch hit the headlines this week.

Biology teacher Dr Jeremy Rowe filmed it after spotting something in the water off Portland Bill, Dorset.

Dr Rowe had been birdwatching on a nearby cliff when he saw the kerfuffle through his telescope about 500m (1,640ft) away.

He said: "I've never seen anything like it."

Aid worker describes escape from deadly strike

"We got a text message. Then the missile hit" - survivor describes missile attack

A Dorset-based aid worker described how he and his colleagues were "so lucky to be alive" after they narrowly escaped a Russian missile attack on a hotel in central Ukraine that left at least four dead.

Karol Swiacki, a Polish national and founder of the Bournemouth-based charity Ukraine Relief, was at the Central Hotel in Kryvyi Rih having dinner with friends when the missile struck.

"We are all safe, we didn't have a scratch, it is incredible," he told BBC South, adding "we still don't know how we survived this, honestly".

City's £200m waterfront towers and hotel approved

The Town Quay plans include 460 flats across one seven-storey and three 25-storey blocks and a hotel

Nicolas James Group CGI of multiple buildings on a waterfront - three are high-rise, ferries and smaller boats can be seen dotted both sides of a quay area. — The Town Quay plans include 460 flats across one seven-storey and three 25-storey blocks and a hotel

Plans to build three 25-storey apartment blocks, a new marina and a five-star hotel with a helipad on Southampton's waterfront were given the go ahead.

The £200m development at the city's Town Quay features 460 flats spread across one seven-storey and three 25-storey blocks.

The nine-storey hotel with 128 bedrooms and 18 serviced apartments will be built first with the work taking place in two phases over four years.

'Paddington will be back', say local businesses

The front of the sculpture was cut away and removed

Christopher Gibbins The defaced statue of Paddington on its bench. Only part of it is left, with the front completely torn off. — The front of the sculpture was cut away and removed

A Paddington Bear statue that was damaged and taken from a bench could be restored to the site.

The front of the sculpture was cut away and removed from its seat in Northbrook Street, Newbury, Berkshire, according to Thames Valley Police. It was later recovered.

The town's business improvement district is now in talks with a film studio to get the statue reinstated.

Two men have been charged with criminal damage.

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