Hampshire & Isle of Wight weekly round-up: 30 March - 5 April 2024

Zoo Zurich, Fabio Süess WarjunZoo Zurich, Fabio Süess
Carrie Arnold, Carnivores Team Leader, said: "Warjun is a really exciting new arrival to the zoo."

A story about the arrival of a snow leopard at Marwell Zoo 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.

Presentational grey line

Hospital unveils 'state-of-the-art' cancer treatment

University Hospital Southampton University Hospital Southampton teamUniversity Hospital Southampton
UHS is one of the first sites in the UK to use the upgraded equipment

A hospital trust has rolled out what it called "state-of-the-art" radiotherapy equipment to treat patients with cancer and other conditions.

Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT) uses high-tech cameras and sensors to produce a unique map of the surface of a patient's body.

University Hospital Southampton (UHS) will use the technology at all seven of its units.

Combined with X-rays, clinicians can give more targeted radiation treatment, the NHS trust said.

Presentational grey line

Seven arrests after illegal rave on Easter Sunday

Google The Avenue, in LongparishGoogle
Police said the unlicensed music event was held on land near Longparish

Seven people were arrested at an unlicensed music event on Easter Sunday.

Police were called to land near The Avenue at Longparish, near Andover.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the event was attended by about 50 people and could be heard "from a significant distance away".

The force seized five vehicles, a generator and "a considerable amount" of sound equipment.

Presentational grey line

Zoo 'chuffed' to welcome new snow leopard

Zoo Zurich, Peter Bolliger WarjunZoo Zurich, Peter Bolliger
Snow leopards live mainly in 12 countries in Central and South Asia

A zoo has said it is "chuffed" to give a one-year-old snow leopard a new home.

Warjun arrived at Marwell Zoo, Winchester, in March after travelling from the Czech Republic.

He joined female Irina in a segregated part of the zoo's snow leopard habitat.

Carrie Arnold, carnivores team leader, said: "Warjun is a young animal and we hope one day he will play a vital role in securing the future of this species."

Presentational grey line

Port incentives switch freight from road to rail

Freight at Southampton Docks
More than a third of imported shipping containers leave Southampton docks by rail

A major port has recorded a sharp increase in customers moving imported freight by train rather than by lorry.

DP World Southampton introduced incentives to use rail in September, paying £70 per shipping container and then £100 from January.

The firm said rail's share had risen from 21% of containers in early 2023 to 35% in March 2024.

Director John Trenchard said the switch had avoided 13,500 lorry journeys in six months.

Presentational grey line

Train delays after security alert at station

Dave Scanlan Basingstoke StationDave Scanlan
Basingstoke railway station was closed on Wednesday morning

A security alert led to delays for rail travellers through Basingstoke.

The station was closed and trains stopped after a package was found at the station at 08:15 GMT on Wednesday morning.

British Transport Police later declared the item to be safe.

Presentational grey line

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.