27/04/2014 South Today

to you. There's more throughout the evening on the BBC News Channel I'm

Good evening, I'm Tom Hepworth. With back with

Good evening, I'm Tom Hepworth. With British forces' 13`year involvement

in Afghanistan coming to an end this year, there were hopes that we might

have seen the last tragic ilages of have seen the last tragic images of

fallen service personnel returning to the South. But, today, flags at

RAF Odiham, in Hampshire, were to the South. But, today, flags at

RAF Odiham, in Hampshire, wdre at RAF Odiham, in Hampshire, wdre at

half mast after four men from the base were killed when a British

helicopter crashed near Kandahar. Steve Humphrey reports. Flowers were

left at the entrance to RAF Odiham today in tribute to the men killed

in the helicopter crash. Those at the base and in the nearby village

have always been acutely aware the base and in the nearby village

have always been acutely aw`re of the risks faced by crews in

Afghanistan. We are one big family here, really, and it is verx sad.

They are supposed to be pulling out of there and that makes it worse,

knowing they may not have been of there and that makes it worse,

knowing they may not have bden there knowing they may not have been there

much longer. Flags have been flying at half`mast. Three of the men who

at half`mast. Three of the len who died were at the RAF Corp. We see

the helicopters going over lost the helicopters going over most

days, and we all think of them with our thoughts. It is such a shock and

we extend our hand of friendship to those in grief. An enquiry hs

those in grief. An enquiry is underway to find out how thd

underway to find out how the helicopter crash. The Ministry of

Defence say it is a tragic `ccident. Defence say it is a tragic accident.

Helicopters from RAF Odiham have played a key role in Afghanistan

since the war started. Yesterday was the first fatal accident involving a

UK helicopter since the conflict started in 2001. The Ministry of

Defence say everything posshble is Defence say everything possible is

being done to support the bdreaved being done to support the bdreaved

families. Police are searching being done to support the bereaved

families. Police are searchhng for a families. Police are searchhng for a

prisoner who's fled from Ford Open Prison, near Arundel, in West

Sussex. People are being warned not to approach Kevin Brown, who has a

history of violence. He was serving life for conspiracy to rob `nd

life for conspiracy to rob and firearms offences. TV presenter

Chris Packham has been questioned by Maltese Police, while highlighting

Maltese Police, while highlhghting illegal hunting of migratory

Maltese Police, while highlighting illegal hunting of migratorx birds

illegal hunting of migratory birds on the Mediterranean island. The

naturalist, who lives in the New Forest, was held for four hours

after hunters objected to his after hunters objected to his

filming. He was not charged and has now returned home. Mr Packham has

described the hunting as "an avian apocalypse". A driver is recovering

in hospital today after an `ccident in West Sussex. The man needed to be

cut from his vehicle, when it ploughed through a fence, and into a

rear garden, at Sompting, last night. He is now being treated for

head injuries at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton. More

than 600 singers aged betwedn nine than 600 singers aged betwedn nine

and 85 took to the stage in Basingstoke today. The last round of

the Choir of the Year competition took place at the Anvil. Out of the

22 choirs that took part in this last round, just six have been put

through to next month's fin`l. As well as the competition there were

workshops and classes so those interested in one of the UK's

fastest growing hobbies could hone their voices. You can have one choir

with seven`year`olds and 60`year`olds in it, which is just

fantastic. Sometimes it is just children or adults, but the way they

come together with a common goal, which is enjoying singing and

performing, I think the main reason they are here is because thdy enjoy

they are here is because they enjoy being together and singing. A

village shopkeeper has advertised a job vacancy for someone to "verbally

abuse" his customers. The advert, in the store in Sutton Scotney, near

Winchester, has caused amusdment and not a little bemusement. Ben Moore

reports. As far as shop window adverts go,

this one bites back. Among the required skills, feigning interest

in customers' stories and assuming they are always wrong. We are small

business and we are trying to find someone shares that same sense of

humour as we did and can sh`re humour as we did and can share

banter with customers. Ian Forsyth wanted to pen a proclamation, the

advert closes with the opportunity to verbally abuse the public. Has

anyone applied? Yes, we interviewed someone. Are they rude? No! It has

put us on the map for the right put us on the map for the right

reason. It is great to have something different, interesting and

realistic, and not a whole load of management rubbish. There w`s no

closing date for applications but do remember that if you end up working

here, double`check any reference letter they give you! Now for the

weather... Hello. We have further heavy showers through the fhrst part

of the night but they are easing of the night but they are easing

away. It could then turn thd misty away. It could then turn the misty

and murky through the early hours, perhaps with some fog, temperatures

perhaps with some fog, tempdratures of 10 degrees. A murky start

tomorrow morning but that should clear and we should see sunny

spells. There will be some showers tomorrow, and they will be heavy,

thundery and slow`moving. Thereafter, the coming days look

unsettled with showers. That is the latest, we are back with another

bulletin at 10:15pm, goodbye. Good evening. After an unsettled

weekend, the same culprit will be staying with us through the early

part of the new week. No pressure is set to continue producing a fair

number of showers across England and Wales. Still some hefty ones to come

through this evening, particularly across the Midlands, South Wales and

south-west England. Rain will spread from the south-west of Scotland into

Northern Ireland by dawn. A mild enough night. Monday, after a gloomy

start for many of us, the cloud and Risley rain across Northern

Ireland. A reasonably dry start across England and Wales but come

the afternoon, that low-pressure centre is still close by and it

looks like it will start generating some pretty hefty thundery showers.

A few for south Wales, certainly across southern England and into

East Anglia. Some areas will miss the showers