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Dambusters Parade

The 'Dambusters' raid was commemorated today at Herne Bay in Kent where the 'bouncing bombs' invented by Barnes Wallis were tested.

South runners tell of Boston blast

Runners from our region have described how they avoided being caught up in the deadly explosions in Boston by a matter of minutes.

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REPORT: Ark Royal leaves Portsmouth 'bound for scrapyard'

The aircraft carrier Ark Royal began her final voyage yesterday as she left Portsmouth bound for a Turkish scrapyard.

Thousands of people gathered to say goodbye to the Navy's glorious past - the Ark ignominiously pushed and pulled to her grave by tugs.

But back on dry land thousands of people are working on the future of the fleet as two new aircraft carriers, the biggest ships ever built for the navy, are beginning to take shape. Richard Jones reports and speaks to Paul Bowsher of BAE, Portsmouth.

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Crowds watch Bonnie in Eurovision dress rehearsal

by Mike Pearse
Eurovision crowd
The scene at the Eurovision Song Contest venue in Sweden Credit: Mike Pearse

Bonnie Tyler has taken part in the final dress rehearsal for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.

For the first time all finalists marched into the arena together to open the show.

Bonnie may not win but she is popular among many fans.

Music lovers form the South were among those who cheered her as she arrived. Fans from Wales proudly waved flags as Bonnie entered the arena.

Earlier she told ITV News she had "almost been brought to tears" at the support from fans in the UK.

Eleven thousand people were in the Malmo Arena for the show on Friday night in Sweden. The actual event takes place on Saturday 18th May 2013.

Bonnie Tyler
Singer Bonnie Tyler will represent the UK at the Eurovision song contest Credit: Dominic Lipinski / PA Wire

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Keel of Britain's largest cruise ship is blessed

The keel is blessed in Italy. Credit: P&O

A ceremony has been held to mark the keel laying of the largest cruise ship ever built for the British market.

The blessing of the new P&O liner took place yesterday at the Monfalcone shipyard of Fincantieri near Trieste, Italy.

The 141,000 ton ship will begin operating in Southampton in 2015.

The gigantic keel moves into place. Credit: P&O

Illegal immigrants caught in Portsmouth lorry

The two men discovered yesterday. Credit: Border Agency UK

Two illegal immigrants from Albania found hiding in a Lancashire-bound lorry at Portsmouth ferry port have been deported.

The pair, aged 29 and 30, were detained by Border Force officers after they were discovered in a load of stone arriving on a ferry from Caen yesterday lunchtime.

They had cut through the lorry trailer’s canvas roof and neatly sewn the gap up in an attempt to evade detection.

Andy Lumb, of Border Force at Portsmouth, said: “This incident shows the lengths some would-be illegal entrants will go to in a bid to reach the UK.

“Clearly these two men thought they had covered their tracks but were found thanks to the assistance of the ferry operator and determination of Border Force officers."

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