14/01/2017 South Today

I'm Edward Sault with the news in the South.

It's a job where you're saving lives every day -

So South Central Ambulance opened its doors to the public today

Currently, around 15% of posts are vacant

Unions say attracting and retaining recruits is a problem

because of the pressures staff face, but the trust says it offers

I'm just going to listen to your chest for a second.

Showing off their skills for an audience who may

This open day at South Central Ambulance's headquarters in Bicester

More than 400 vacancies across a wide range

The thought of caring for people, being there for them when they are

in their time of need, I think really just appeals to me.

If you become a volunteer first responder,

as I want to start with, one day, I might become

Last year, South Central Ambulance, which serves Hampshire,

Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, became the first

ambulance service to be rated good in England.

The unions say the pressures members face here and at

other trusts make recruiting and retaining staff a big issue.

Unfortunately, our ambulance crews are going out to call after call at

Now, it's a stressful job and the more stress you are

under, the more you are likely to think, well, maybe I should be

It is a very pressurised environment, but what we

hope to be able to do today is to attract

despite those pressures, it really is a rewarding job and one that

The trust sometimes calls on agencies to fill apps.

Reducing those costs is one reason why

With another opened a planned soon in

Hampshire and an ongoing search overseas, it says it is doing all it

can to attract new talent and to support existing staff.

A family with young children were threatened by three masked men

who forced their way into their home in Poole last night.

The gang stole high-value Asian jewellery and cash

Police say no-one was injured in the ordeal.

All three suspects are described as white, in their early 20s

In the '50s, she was known as Britain's blonde bombshell -

and became a successful film and TV actress.

Diana Dors was born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon in 1931.

Today, her son and grand-daughter unveiled a blue plaque honouring

the late star at her birthplace in Kent Road.

It followed a campaign by the group Swindon Heritage.

It's really quite flattering to know that my grandmother

is still so well-known and still so well thought of.

She was a very business minded woman.

She worked very hard for everything and she was an incredible actress

Onto this afternoon's football and in the Premier League,

a penalty from Junior Stanislas gave Bournemouth an early lead at Hull.

But the home side, who started the day at the foot of the table,

And no better news for Southampton fans, I'm afraid.

It's now four league defeats in a row for Claude Puel's men,

In the Championship, Brighton lost 2-0 at Preston

and saw their lead at the top of the table cut to two points.

In League One, Oxford were beaten 2-1 at Wimbledon.

MK Dons' match at Port Vale was postponed because of snow.

And in League Two, Portsmouth beat Leyton Orient 2-1 at Fratton Park.

Before the weather, just to let you know our current affairs

programme the Sunday Politics will be taking a look at the issues

That's tomorrow at 11 o'clock on BBC One.

Now it's the weather with Bee Tucker.

We have still got the risk of some showers heading through the night,

we could see some sleet mixed in as well.

Most towns and cities staying above freezing but rural

areas could see a touch of frost first thing.

And that brings the risk of some ice, particularly further east.

A cloudy day tomorrow, any wintry stuff quickly turning

to rain as we get this milder air pushing in.

Lighter winds but a damp day, a lot of mist, low cloud and hill fog.

to rain as we get this milder air pushing in.

Getting the detail of this cold snap is proving to be challenging and

will continue to be so over the next 24 hours. Ice around across eastern

parts after the earlier showers then rain pushing in from Northern

Ireland across Scotland and a period of snow across eastern Scotland

temporarily. It will extend into northern Wales and England too. A

chilly night across the East, much milder. Tomorrow, everything nudges

further east which gives us an issue because a period of snow across

Lincolnshire and East Anglia could give a