Weekly round-up: Five stories you may have missed

A story about Peppa Pig World in Hampshire removing free entry for parents and carers of children with disabilities was among our most read this week.

We have picked five stories from the past seven days in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Berkshire and Oxfordshire to keep you up to date.

A 17th Century mourning ring discovered by a metal detectorist in Dorset is to go under the hammer.

Anthony Woolmington, who has been metal detecting for eight years, found the ring on a farm near Shillingstone in 2021.

Unaware of its significance, he handed it to the farmer, whose son began looking in to its origins.

Research by Dorset History Centre, British Museum and Hansons Auctioneers revealed the ring commemorated a death more than 300 years ago.

A mother-of-two whose water was temporarily cut off said Thames Water holds its customers in contempt after an MP's attempts to get compensation for her and others failed.

Steph Mitchell lives with her family in the Newtown area of Reading, Berkshire, and they lost their water supply for at least a day in January 2024.

She asked Reading Central MP Matt Rodda for help and his office has tried to get compensation but has been left frustrated.

A Thames Water apologised for January 2024's problems, which were caused by cold weather, and said customers' accounts were credited with compensation.

The mother of a boy with autism has told the BBC she is disappointed with the decision to remove free entry for parents and carers of children with disabilities at Peppa Pig World.

Paultons Park, which is home to the Peppa-themed rides, previously offered a free essential companion ticket alongside a full-priced ticket for any visitor requiring additional assistance.

The New Forest-based park has now rescinded this offer, and will instead charge carers 50% of the usual ticket price to enter the park.

A spokesperson for Paultons Park said the decision to bring in the change had been made "under deep consideration".

The family of a globe-trotting butler who mingled with royalty has been reunited with his lost postcards from the 1920s.

Frank Hills, who died in 1962, spent the majority of his life working as a valet, personal attendant or butler to affluent people.

In these roles he visited Egypt during the period King Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered, in 1922.

A series of eight postcards documenting his travels have been found at an antiques fair on the Isle of Wight and reunited with his family.

Twelve emergency vehicles destined for Ukraine have taken part in an "unbelievable" drive around an iconic race track.

Oxfordshire-based voluntary organisation Driving Ukraine has provided more than 150 vehicles for frontline efforts since the war began.

On Thursday, one of the biggest trips the group has organised will depart the UK for Ukraine, with 28 volunteers driving the 12 vehicles as well as £250,000 worth of aid to the western city of Lviv.

To mark the occasion, on Wednesday the 12 vehicles completed four laps of the Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire.

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