Christmas queue date unveiled

Petersfield Post Office has announced its 'last queueing date for Christmas' - and it's Tuesday, December 8.

"December 8 is the last date anyone can join the queue and genuinely expect to be served before Christmas," said Royal Mail spokesman Bob Jobsworth.

"Whether you need a stamp, want to check your letter against that odd cutout cardboard thingy we use these days to determine which exhorbitant price you'll pay, or you just want to dither about asking pointless questions of our staff, now's the time to start your wait."

At the time of going to press, the end of the queue was edging past the war memorial towards Heath Road, so by now it's probably somewhere near the Taro Leisure Centre (this is an estimate - actually a pointlessly wild guess - and Petersfield Newswire accepts no responsibility if the queue has headed in the opposite direction and is now lingering outside Macdonalds).

Local press excited

A local newspaper is claiming that “revelers will be rocking around the Christmas tree” between December 5 and 7, at this year's Petersfield Christmas Festival, thanks to what it describes as “an exciting line-up of bands and performers”.

As usual, a number of acts that nobody will have heard of have been booked for the event and organisers are hoping that at least one or two of them can string a few notes together to entertain the crowd.

Groups secured for the event include Little Willy and his Piccolo, The Flatulent Pheasants, Revenge of the Angry Housewives, REO Speed Camera and topping the bill, Irish boy band Gang Green.

The Town Council has given permission for a perimeter fence to be set up around the square at this year's event, to control crowds. This isn't so much in an effort to maintain order, as numbers.

The plan is to have an entrance but no exit, so crowds should swell into the dozens or even hundreds if misleading signage can be erected in time.

Petersfield 'ready' for traditional Christmas

Local council officials, traders and the usual busybodies are confident of a traditional Christmas in the town this year, according to reports circulating the Petersfield Newswire office.

Some of the traditions the local authorities are expected to maintain include moaning about the cost of decorating the town, arguing over whose responsibility it is to put up the lights and warning that this is probably the last year we'll have any lights anyway.

Meanwhile, officials from Pennsions Place continue to look for a Christmas tree for the Market Square. In keeping with time-honoured tradition, they won't give up their search until they've identified the scruffiest clump of branches this side of Norway and then dragged it back on a rope until it has exactly half the charm of a tramp's jumper.

Asked to comment on the proposals, one woman in Ram's Walk said: "Beeg eee-shoe. Beeg eee-shoe."

As if by magic, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary appeared

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, Hilary Benn, left, greets an enthusiastic supporter during a

recent visit to Petersfield

Hilary Benn, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, has signed off the final documentation required for the South Downs to become a National Park.

While many agree wholeheartedly that the unique landscape should be protected from overdevelopment, there are a number who are left dumbfounded by the argument for National Park status put forward by Mr Benn.

Walter Proofs, from the South Down’s Society, has long advocated that the priceless downland landscape with its native heathers, beetles and moths, desperately needs protection - but this is very different from the controversial argument put forward by Mr Benn.

Mr Benn maintains that on one visit to Harting Down, he saw a tiger, a leopard and was nearly killed by a charging white rhinoceros.

Challenged regarding these extraordinary sightings Mr Benn retorted: "I recommend that any doubters visit my tailor in Chapel Street, Petersfield. Any of you can be kitted out in khaki walking attire and matching pith helmet.

"You will then be given access to the more exciting parts of the park through the tailor’s special changing rooms.

"I know it sounds incredible, but you really must give it a go. I even saw some amazing coloured submarines having a battle in Petersfield Lake."

As if by magic, one of Mr Benn's advisors appeared, wearing a bow tie and matching waistcoat and fez, and ushered the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary through a door from where he suddenly reappeared in the House of Commons.

Wet November caused by tears

The unrelenting wetness which has plagued the Petersfield area in recent days is understood to be the result of mass crying, Petersfield Newswire can exclusively reveal.

An Isuzu truck full of milk skidaddled off the Southbound carriageway of the A3 near the Midhurst turn last week, prompting acute outbursts of crying across the GU32 postal district.

Residents in Steep Marsh, Stroud and the roads off Pulens Lane where they like to pretend they’re in Sheet, all reported weeping incidents.

Amateur tearologist Dr Daventry McAllister said: “It only takes a couple of hundred people locked into synchronised blubbing and you’ve got the makings of a proper flood. Just look at the swollen Rother. That’s all tears, that is.”

Officers at the A3 crash scene initially struggled to work out what had happened. It was only later when they gave up hope of trying altogether. By 5pm they were back at the station sobbing into their tea, made with milk they nicked from the crashed van.

It’s officially the wettest November in living memory, especially for small children and those with poor memories.

POSTSCRIPT: Following this discovery, the Environment Agency has issued flood warnings for Liverpool and other areas of Merseyside, where collective outpourings of grief are commonplace and, largely, unnecessary.

*Our thanks to Cyrano, one of Newswire's latest fans, for this contribution.

Council demands enquiry and extra sun-tan lotion

A view of the cars parked in and

around Petersfield town square yesterday

An East Hampshire District Council spokesman has demanded an enquiry into a leak at the council following premature use of Petersfield town centre as a giant car park.

Secret discussions have apparently been taking place behind closed doors at the council after it was suggested using the High Street and town square as a ‘giant car park’ for Christmas following the recent loss of Petersfield’s only traffic warden.

The spokesman confirmed: “It would appear that the general public has already been made aware of our plans judging by the number of cars parked in the High St and town square yesterday (Sunday). You couldn’t get a pushbike down the High St.

“Somebody must have leaked our plan and we must discover who spawned Squaregate.

“The council discussions centred around saving money on a traffic warden and paying lip service to those members of the public who wanted the square to become pedestrianised.

“The idea was that we would allow parking everywhere which would clog up the High Street making it impassable. Consequently, pedestrians would be able to walk around without fear of being run over and those who had availed themselves of the facility would no longer be able to moan about our exorbitant car park charges.

“Plus the savings on not recruiting a new traffic warden before Christmas meant we could put the money to better use – on a big office party for everybody at EHDC.”

Confirmation of the council’s plans merely exacerbated the feelings of anger expressed by the town’s serially-moaning shopkeeper, jeweller and haberdasher Matt Tress.

“The situation is ridiculous,” he grumbled. “How can we mere public servants earn a meagre crust if our delivery vans can’t reach us with our stock? It’s not about lost profits it’s about failing in our duty to give the public what they need.

“To make even a modest living and to maintain three mortgages and six cars I need to have a steady footfall past my shop. But the council never concerns itself with the little people.

“Won’t they please, occasionally, think of the shopkeepers?”

His sentiments were echoed by local vicar’s wife Helen Lovejoy, who added: “Won’t somebody please think of the children?”

The council spokesman confirmed that the money saved on not employing a traffic warden would now be spent on a combined Squaregate enquiry and traffic management familiarisation trip on the Caribbean island of St Lucia, over the Christmas period.

Packing his sunglasses and Speedos, the spokesman added: “We currently have no plans to change the traffic management in the square at weekends. Ask me again in the new year when I’ll feel a bit more chilled out.”

Price freeze receives cool response

A Petersfield station similar to

the one not referred to in the story

South West Trains have come under fire from Petersfield commuters' group Pompous Commuters Gone Mad (PC GM) after announcing a price freeze this year.

A handful of commuters have reacted angrily to the recent announcement by South West Trains that season ticket prices are not to be increased this January.

“How does this reflect on us?” demanded Ophelia Thighs, from PC Gone Mad.

“I’m always telling my colleagues at work about how we live in such a beautiful, affluent, rural spot; and now the world is going to see that our season-ticket prices have been put on hold. It’s scandalous.

“I know they will all be smirking at me behind my back. Arriva’s fares will be increasing by five per cent and the fares of my workmates who use First Great Western will be increased by up to four per cent. Why are we being left with no increase, zilch, zippo, niet?

“There should be a law against this sort of thing. It doesn’t need to be much, just a token increase; enough to show that SWT feel they can impose a charge without it mattering to us.

"Surely some of those chaps who work out on the line in the cold could do with a little more money; any sort of increase would be welcome."

Petersfield man in Petersfield Hospital after reading Petersfield story in Petersfield newspaper

A pensioner had to be treated for shock earlier today after finding a story about Petersfield in the Petersfield and District Messenger.

Albert Albert RN retd, 108, was treated at Petersfield Hospital after the shock discovery of a press release about a local community group hidden inside the free paper, next to a full-page advert for a nail salon in Farnham.

He said: "I used to live in both Haslemere and Farnham so getting the Petersfield and District Messenger was a real bonus as it was packed with press releases from those areas.

"It came as a real shock to read about Petersfield brownies raising £250. If I wanted to read about Petersfield brownies I would move to Lindford and get the Haslemere Messenger. It's an outrage."

Other media outlets in the area confirmed they were expecting a deluge of letters of ill-informed complaint following the shock discovery.

But some are unlikely to change their policy. The Meon Valley News and the News and Mail, which are both also distributed in Petersfield, are not expected to start including many Petersfield stories in their editions.

A spokesman not connected with either paper, but prepared to hazard a guess at their reaction, said: "It's all about advertising, innit. If they buy ads then they'll carry a press release.

"The only other way to get coverage is to issue your press release along with a picture of a small girl, ideally holding a furry animal. That is one of the first rules of local PR.

"Personally, when I wanted to get coverage for my business I started up my own magazine and bought out the opposition - that always seems to work quite well."

Petersfield poll shocker - residents "don't give a toss!"

Almost two thirds of Petersfield residents do not care about the opinions of their neighbours, an exclusive Petersfield Newswire survey has revealed.

In a shocking admission, 62 per cent of people polled admitted they did "not give a toss" about what other people thought.

Mori Rosencrantz, a specialist in interpreting data to suit the corporate entities that commission opinion polls, said: "This clearly illustrates that Petersfield residents are among the most insulated and opinionated people in the country.

"It would not be beyond the realms of possibility to say that the poll indicates a huge degree of intolerance of other people's beliefs and that Petersfield is not the ideal place to choose to live if you are a member of a minority group, such as Al Qaeda or the Labour Party.

"I am also prepared to go on record as saying that it indicates a high degree of smoking if we are being paid by the tobacco lobby."

*This week's poll will appear tomorrow and will be about something else we can mis-interpret. 

SMALL PRINT: The Amble poll surveyed the views of several people, some of them (possibly) more than once and not all of them from Petersfield.

Scooter looter clue is just the ticket for police

Thieves made off with a scooter from Market Town Shopmobility and used it to ram-raid a charity shop.

Staff in the shop were so taken by surprise they failed to emerge from their nap in the back room before the cheeky raider had fled.

The four-wheeled thief made off with five packs of extra-long socks, a lavender pillow, a selection of second-hand romantic novels, a 1984 cassette tape of 101 Strings and an ornamental shire horse with one ear missing. Police put the value of the theft at around £4.50.

A police spokesman said: “The mobility scooter has a top speed of eight miles per hour so by the time our men arrived on the scene the perpetrator may have already been as far away as Liphook.

“We are, however, confident of apprehending the individual because, during the raid, he filled in his name and address on a book of raffle tickets available for purchase on the counter.”

Mo Bility, the eponymous manager of Market Town Shopmobilty, explained: “This is the first time in 16 years one of our customers has borrowed a scooter, not returned it and used it to ram-raid a charity shop.

“There has previously only been one similar occurrence when a scooter was used in a hit-and-run with a pet tortoise, but nothing on this scale.

“We may need to review our hiring policy. It is a sad reflection on society if you can no longer trust somebody merely because they wear suits with arrows on and carry sacks marked ‘swag’.”

Bridge collapse linked to Petersfield 'terror' cell

The worst thing for South West Trains

 since leaves on the line

Police are investigating claims that members of a Petersfield-based commuter ‘terrorist’ cell were today responsible for the collapse of a railway bridge in the London area (see here).

It is alleged that members of Petersfield Affirmative Action (PAA) deliberately targeted the bridge in an effort to deflect media attention away from the power shortage at Petersfield railway station which also led to delays on South West Train routes into London today.

A police spokesman confirmed: “We are certainly investigating these claims as we have been aware of the existence of the PAA for some time.

"It would be true that Petersfield would have been more in the public glare today had it not been for the collapsed bridge at Feltham. And following previous investigations we know that the PAA will go to any lengths to ensure there is nothing in the media which could possibly harm house prices in the east Hampshire town or the artificially high cost of a South West Trains season ticket.”

The power shortage at Petersfield is believed to have been caused by thousands of the town’s residents putting on the kettle at the end of today’s GMtv show on ITV.

A spokesman for South West Trains said: “The problem with Petersfield is that many of the residents are either past retirement age or simply don’t need to work. So they spend much of the day watching television and making cups of tea.

“It’s not unusual for the level crossing gates to stay down if their position coincides with the end of Loose Women. And we hardly ever see a train at all during the ad breaks for Location, Location, Location and Grand Designs, or any cookery programme featuring a recipe involving sun-dried tomatoes.”

Letter to the editor

If you'd like to write a letter of ill-informed complaint to Petersfield Newswire, email us at stuff@petersfieldnewswire.co.uk

Sir,

I am writing to protest in the strongest possible terms about something which I feel must stop before it proves a blight on our town.

I’ve no idea what it is but I’m sure there is something out there which will anger us immensely over the next 12 months and which will act as a catalyst for a stream of letters of ill-informed complaint to your website.

Year after year we find things to outrage us and it appears 2010 will be no different.

I blame the current Government, immigrants, teenagers and those responsible for determining the current drop in house prices.

Unless something is done soon I fear nothing will be done. Surely the status quo is worth maintaining.

Yours,

Mandy Hiller
Toomuchtimeonmyhands Avenue, Steep

This charming MP

Michael Mates      Morrissey

News has emerged of how retiring East Hampshire MP Michael Mates will be spending his time following the upcoming general election: he’s going to stand in for ailing miserabilist singer Morrissey.

The two met at a recent ‘Meat Is Murder’ convention and immediately recognised each other’s inability to match their dark eyebrows to their greying hair.

Following his recent collapse on stage at Swindon, former Smiths frontman Mozza was on the lookout for someone to take on the burden of some of his public appearances.

"I couldn’t believe it when Michael said he was going to be out of a job soon," said Morrissey (real name Morrissey). "I think he’ll do a great job and it will give me more time to sit around moaning."

Mates commented: "I know I’ll have to work on the quiff a bit but I’m really looking forward to it – I’ve loved him since the early days. I especially liked Margaret On The Guillotine…"

You're Sheet - and you know you are

The Sheet Village Association is looking to set up a new twinning arrangement with the Bermuda Triangle after the mysterious overnight disappearance of a large quantity of heavy plant and machinery from the Rams Hill area.

On Tuesday evening drivers on the A272 roundabout noted the presence of a considerable number of vehicles, heavy plant and diversion signs.

But the next morning there was no sign of anything actually having been done – no fresh tarmac, no holes in the road, nothing. Zilch.

Now, the leader of the Sheet Village Association, Noel “Sheet” Sherlock, is to use the apparent presence of supernatural forces to engage in a twinning partnership with the infamous Bermuda Triangle, an area of the North Atlantic Ocean in which a number of aircraft and ships have mysteriously disappeared.

He said: “I’m always looking for ways to get cheap publicity and this seems as good as any. I have been accused of trying to jump on the ‘bandwagon’ and while that was my initial intention, by the time I got there the bandwagon had simply vanished!”

But not everybody is in favour of using the mysterious event as a means of obtaining free foreign travel to exotic climes.

One resident who contacted Petersfield Newswire, David Podger, said: “Either it was all a dream or roadwork activity is being used to disguise attempts to enter into contact with alien life forms.”

Another nearby resident, the renowned madman Professor Pat Pending, added: “There was a huge amount of activity Tuesday evening but absolutely no trace of anything the following morning. I even went out with my metal detector and my giga counter because I was so concerned about what was happening.

“The giga counter found serious traces of a material I like to call ‘giga’ while the metal detector found 75 pence, an earring and a ninth century belt buckle belonging to a Viking called Bo – he even had his postcode inscribed on the back, although it only became apparent under ultra-violet light.

“There was nobody around except a pretty Welsh woman and a camp American in an RAF greatcoat called Captain Jack, who was driving a large black Range Rover with tinted windows. I’m sure I’d seen them somewhere before.”

Albert Albert RN retd, who lives in Alternate Reality Way, off Rams Hill, said: “It was just like D-Day. All these vehicles queuing up on Rams Hill; people in uniform running around; American servicemen handing out chewing gum to children; blokes in white vans fitting satellite dishes; Mussolini hanging from the lamppost; kids being picked up by adults and passed down to the front so they could see; and nobody locked their doors in those days – they didn’t need to; we had nuffink to nick.

“The next morning they were all gawn. Just like the day after D-Day. I remember that was called E-Day. It was very much the same as D-Day only we invaded over the internet…”

Albert Albert RN retd is 108.

Newswire's new interactive service

Petersfield Newswire has today launched a brand new, innovative, state-of-the-art interactive section to bring us closer to you, our readers.

This will enable us to pose a weekly question of no relevance to man nor beast and for you to wastefully spend time answering an opinion poll.

This will enable us to cut down on genuine journalism and post one story a week highlighting how sad individuals with nothing better to do all day feel on a topic about which most of us couldn't give a toss.

See our very first opinion poll (left). Answers not collated by Gallup, more likely by Amble.

Petersfield Newswire - Your Petersfield, Your Newswire, You're wasting your time...

School's discovery continues to fuel further development

The new logo in all its glory

A local school is set to make history as it applies for planning permission to build a petrol station on its land.

Market Town Big School's head teacher, Ms Dee Tention, is determined to maximise any profit that the school is set to make since workmen struck oil on the school premises.

Tention explained: “We are looking to capitalise on the situation and this seems the logical next step. It was unfortunate that the original land had to be sold off, but I desperately needed a sauna and steam room, and our finance team could see no other reasonable way of funding the build.

“Now it looks as though we will have more money than we know what to do with and I want to ensure that none of this goes to waste.

“I have spoken to Al Kaloid in our chemistry department and he is going to establish whether he can arrange the refinement of the oil, and do whatever it is that needs to be done to sell it on to the public.

“Kaloid looked a little uncertain, but I was very clear with him: if he’s not up to the simple challenge, we will be looking for a new chemistry teacher.

“We haven’t yet set on a name for the fuel outlet but quite like the idea of The Petrol Station (TPS)."

Pensioners demand a slice of the action

Mr Mussolini, not in picture, often has to send out for

pizza to be delivered to his flat

Petersfield pensioners are furious at the distance they have to travel to get an Italian meal in the town.

"The opening of Domino Pizza in Lavant Street has helped a bit - but it's still farcical how far some of my friends have to travel just for a simple pepperoni slice," moaned Ben Mussolini, chairman of the town branch of PUF (Pensioners' Union of Fascists).

"OK, residents of Chapel Street are fine with Pizza Express and Papa John's right on their doorstep - but what about those living nearer the Square? They probably can't afford the prices of La Piazetta and will have to make their way right into the High Street to ASK. It's a disgrace - the battery on my mobility scooter often runs out before I get home with my margherita."

Mr Mussolini, aged 126, added: " I have lived here since I escaped, er, emigrated from Rome in 1944 and I can't believe that in all that time the people of Petersfield haven't taken to the delights of Italian food."

A spokesman for East Hampshire District Council confirmed they had been in receipt of a number of complaints and said: "We are setting up a working party to see why there are so few Italian food outlets in Petersfield.

"Obviously it remains a concern for us as does the lack of suitable venues to enjoy a coffee or place a bet. These things are important to the residents of the town and our councillors are desperate for their votes."

Stallholder left foaming

 

Plans for a huge ice rink covering the town square during the Christmas festivities have been shelved following fears it would pose too great a danger to the public.

One Petersfield market stall holder thought he had the answer to the problem, however, while at the same time making him a small fortune.

Mr Squarepants, who runs the market stall that stocks foam, but never seems to sell any, proposed that the iconic statue be wrapped in foam for the event, thus protecting the skaters from its hard angled edges.

But haberdasher Matt Tress, complained that the large rink would reduce the number of shoppers that could fit into the centre of town, having an adverse effect on his takings.

Members of the Festivities Committee could not come to an agreement over the issue and the ambitious plan was shelved.

The good news for the Petersfield public is that anybody needing foam will inevitably see Mr Squarepants, surrounded by his never changing stock, at the weekend.

Juggling finances

 

A local private school has hosted a traveling circus which erected its tent in the school grounds and put on a private show for the students and their parents.

Entertaining the crowds were jugglers, acrobats, a lion tamer and of course the mandatory clowns.

The show had been arranged by Parents Desperate To Be Seen To Be Doing Something, a group that occasionally stage pointless events, helping the parents to feel as if they’ve helped the school cause in some way.

The event raised money for the teachers’ holiday fund, but the benefits are further reaching: the children get a welcome break from their studies and of course the teachers get the day off.

PDTBSTBDS organiser Gloria Swether said: “We secured the troupe for a discounted rate, luckily Mrs Crustcake, our domestic science teacher was happy to stand in as the bearded lady, thus reducing the overheads."

Even though the prices were exorbitant, ticket sales to children and their wealthy parents exceeded all expectations and the school made the healthy profit they had hoped for.

Swether added: “The only blight on the day was that one of our new girls, young Wilhemina Horsebox, was mauled by one of the tigers. That said, we understand she will probably pull through; which is good because we really don't want this to mar people’s memory of an otherwise wonderful day.”

Council's bin creative

The bins are ideally placed for duck waste too...

Petersfield Town Council (PYC) believes it has “killed two birds with one stone” with an innovative scheme that should reduce litter on Petersfield Lake.

With the full backing of the Environment Agency, litter bins have been carefully placed to encourage visitors to stop leaving discarded lager cans and cigarette packets when visiting the town’s iconic lake.

But, these are no ordinary bins: designed by scientist Walter Clearup these bins float and have been strategically placed and anchored across the pond.

Ms Flo Tynbyns, speaking on behalf of PTC, enthused: “We are proud to be setting an example here. These ground-breaking waste receptacles will provide members of the public boating on the lake with somewhere to throw their rubbish.

“We’ve all seen them, thinking they are out of sight, chucking their rubbish overboard; well now there’s no excuse.”

But the usefulness of the bins doesn’t end there. Global warming saw the lake freeze over last year and in the winter the bins can again be used - this time as you would a normal bin … but on the ice.

Ms Tynbyns added: “Where you have a pond, you invariably get pond life, in this case hoodies and other benefit-claimant types.

“Last year the ice sheet was littered by these oiks who stroll out onto the ice, drink their lager and then leave the cans and bottles behind them. Now at least the sight of the bins might encourage them to dispose of their litter sensibly.”

Duane, 17, who was sat in the playground beside the lake drinking Diamond White when approached by a Petersfield Newswire reporter, said: “I don’t get it, when the ice melts, yeah, the rubbish sinks, yeah, so what’s the problem? Anyway what’s a litter bin?”

More than one way to run a one-way system say critics

Motorists in Petersfield are being driven round the bend by the town’s Tor Way one-way system.

Local activists are petitioning the council to change the direction of the current system, with claims that an anti-clockwise route would reduce wear and tear to cars, make the town easier to navigate and increase commerce.

The new chairman of Petersfield Residents Against Thousands of Things (PRATTs) and shop owner Matt Tress said: “For as long as I can remember people have been driving round the one-way system the same way and its time that changed.

“The constant right turns have an untold impact on cars and the cost to motorists could be astronomical. It’s creating an awful lot of wear on one side of people’s cars.

“And it can’t be a coincidence that a company specialising in tyres is right next to the one-way system; they know that’s where their market is.

“Also I’m fed up with driving from Ramshill and having to go all the way up to the Folly Market only to come back. It’s ridiculous and quite frankly shouldn’t happen in this day and age. If we changed it around we could drive straight to the station from Ramshill.

“Changing the one-way system could be just what we need to revitalise the town. It could be just the start of getting people moving in different directions, and anything that might get more traffic past my shop can only be a good thing.”

But not everybody is in favour.

Tom Foolery, who lives in Station Road, opined: "It's a ridiculous idea. I drive to work in Sheet every morning from Station Road, so I would have to go right the way around the new lay-out.

"It would be a much better idea if they changed it in the mornings and reverted to the existing system in the evening; that way I wouldn't need to go around it at all ... except when visiting my mother."

It’s a Twister

 

The people of Petersfield were terrorised by high winds yesterday as a tornado swept through the area.

Trees were uprooted, fences blown over, countless buildings damaged and a hot air balloon torn from its moorings and blown out of sight.

The owner of the balloon, Professor Marvel, was asked by the police in which direction it had disappeared, and, appearing somewhat dazed, he said: “Away above the chimney tops." Asked if he could be a little more helpful he added: “Somewhere over the rainbow."

The professor was taken to the local hospital for tests.

Although no-one was badly injured one woman, Dorothy Gale, rang the police to report that she had lost her little dog. Ms Gale scoured the local area after the storm has subsided calling: “Come out, come out, wherever you are” but to no avail.

The appropriately named Ms Gale described the dog as: "A scruffy little rat-sized pooch, with an annoying yap, that answers to the name of Toto."

Anyone finding the dog should contact Dorothy, or in her absence, her Aunty Em on 01730 020202.

Playing-field sell-off leads to untold riches

Security staff have been called in to protect the motherlode

A local school, so desperate for cash that it resorted to selling some of its land to one of the huge supermarket chains, has struck oil.

Market Town Big School's head teacher, Dee Tention, sold some of her school land to make life more comfortable for current staff and in the hope that modern facilities would improve results.

At the time many local residents were up in arms, claiming that the land was irreplaceable and that the health of children, which should be paramount, would suffer as playing fields and sports facilities were given up.

But the sale of the land controversially went through and the improvement of school facilities is going ahead. And first to be completed was the head teacher's new office.

“It’s fabulous.” said Tention. “Oak panelled walls, antique furniture and the seal skin wing-back armchairs are more luxurious than I ever imagined they'd be. They're so well finished.

“The only slight down side to this is that my sauna and steam room will now have to be put on hold. You see I was having a room added below ground level, underneath my office; and it was while the workmen were digging the foundations that they struck oil.”

Specialists have been called in to establish how much oil there is under the school, but the future of the site now looks secure - and plans to sell off more of the playing fields can be put on hold, perhaps permanently.

Tention said: “This should guarantee us an “outstanding” at the next Ofsted inspection, and I can start looking at five-star cruises for next summer.”

Flood terror hits Petersfield

The scenes of carnage this morning at

Monks Vineyard - contributed picture

The emergency services and local coastguard were mobilised early this morning when a Petersfield woman became concerned at the presence of rising flood-water.

Gwendolyn Ponsonby-Landowner, who lives in Monks Vineyard, said: “I was woken in the night by the tremendous noise generated by the torrential downpour on the lead roofs of the staff cottages.

“I was so concerned an hour later that I woke our chauffeur and sent him out into the garden to see how bad it had got. Shockingly, he reported that the rain had come down so heavily and so quickly that the standing water was rising above the level of our decking.

“After a quick consultation with our insurance broker we were advised to contact the emergency services as we have some very expensive patio furniture and some rare orchids on the decking.

“Fortunately these were airlifted to my husband’s Chelsea flat at the cost of only several thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money. What might have happened if we hadn’t reacted so swiftly doesn’t bear thinking about.

“We’ve already had to cancel a Conservative Party fundraiser we had planned in a marquee this weekend. I’m not sure people in other parts of the country realise how bad it could have been.”

A spokesman for Hampshire Air Ambulance said: “For Christ’s sake…”