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Weekly round-up: Five stories you may have missed

BBC Two workmen have removed a square-shaped manhole cover.BBC
Teams lifted a series of manholes to trace the misconnection

Tales of a misconnected sewage pipe and the life of a family carer have been 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.

Flats released sewage into river for 35 years

Southern Water Two Southern Water team members smile for the camera next to a block of flats. They wear orange jackets and white hard hats. A high-tech laptop sits on top of equipment behind them.Southern Water
Southern Water workers have started diverting the sewage from Upper Grosvenor Road

A block of flats has been illegally releasing wastewater straight into a river for more than 35 years, a water company has said.

Southern Water said it found the worst misconnection staff had ever seen at Royal Court on Upper Grosvenor Road in Southampton.

Ben Trinder, from the water operator's illegal connections team, said since 1989 it could have released 11 million litres of sewage into the River Itchen from toilets alone.

The company said it was now working to put the situation right.

'I am a carer for my husband, son and daughter'

Suzanne Buckner Suzanne Buckner and her daughter face the camera. The mother has a patterned black, grey, red and white blouse and brown hair tied back in a wavy style. Her daughter has braided, brown hair and wears a red sweatshirt bearing the word "nemesis".Suzanne Buckner
Ms Buckner cares for her 18-year-old daughter who has a range of medical conditions

A woman has described working 24-hour days in order to care for her husband, son and daughter.

Suzanne Buckner, from Three Mile Cross, Berkshire, said she sometimes went without sleep and was too busy to attend health appointments for herself.

She previously set up a school for her son, who has a personality disorder, and also supports a husband with clinical depression and a daughter who is deaf and has diabetes and tumours on her liver.

In a survey to mark the start of Carers Week, the charity Carers UK said some carers were reporting declining health because they had no time look after their own needs.

Removal of beach sea defences given go-ahead

National Trust Aerial view of Middle Beach which is surrounded by trees. The tide is in. Behind the beach is a car park and beyond that are a number of houses.National Trust
The National Trust said the works would result in a natural cove and an enhanced wildlife habitat for sand lizards and birds

Work to remove sea defences from a Dorset beach is due to begin in September after the scheme to "allow nature to take its course" received planning consent.

The National Trust is proposing "managed realignment" followed by "no intervention" at Middle Beach, Studland, in response to climate change and coastal erosion.

It said the stone gabions were "collapsing and a risk to the public" and their removal would result in a more natural beach within two years.

Jewish staff oppose uni's Gaza protest proceedings

Reuters Protesters stand in front of a university building during a demonstration in support of Palestinians, at Oxford University, amidst the ongoing conflict.Reuters
The group called on the University of Oxford to "put the record straight, lest supposed threats to Jewish safety be used ... to demonize the movement for Palestinian rights"

Jewish university staff and emeritus have urged the dropping of disciplinary proceedings against 13 students involved in a pro-Palestinian protest.

On 23 May 2024, the group of Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P) campaigners occupied University of Oxford building on Wellington Square, demanding a meeting over its policies relating to the Gaza war.

In an open letter, current and former staff members said the university "adopted a needlessly hostile" stance toward its own students, whose disciplinary procedures commenced on Monday.

The university said the process was "confidential" and declined to comment further.

'Gut feeling more important than social media likes'

Getty Images John Giddings speaking into a microphone.Getty Images
John Giddings has run the festival since it restarted in 2002

A leading music festival promoter said "gut feeling" was more important than social media likes when booking headline acts.

John Giddings, who represents artists ranging from Blondie to Phil Collins, has run the Isle of Wight Festival since it restarted in 2002.

He said performers needed to be able to "deliver" to a crowd and get people in the audience to look away from their phone screens.

The 72-year-old said he had "learned the hard way" that some people "might have sold a lot of records but they're useless when it comes to performing".