Winklebury Carnival suffered a disappointing turnout this year, which organisers are blaming on the economic climate and the clash with the Farnborough Airshow. The carnival, which ran from Friday July 23 to Sunday July 25, saw approximately 2500 people turn up to enjoy the weekend; just half the usual visitors. However, those who did visit the carnival enjoyed a number of fairground rides, a fire engine to name a few.

A Basingstoke charity hopes more than 2,000 ladies will take to the borough’s streets for a Midnight Walk later this year.

St Michaels Hospice, based in Aldermaston Road, is hosting the event on Saturday, September 4 after the success of last year’s trek. In 2009, more than 1,200 ladies helped raise £125,000 for the hospice by walking 11miles through the boundaries of Basingstoke. The walk is for women only and provides a great opportunity for girls together and have fun, charity bosses...

Abi Titmuss has been confirmed as the star of this year’s Christmas panto at The Anvil.

Having wowed the town with her performance in The Naked Truth, Abi will return as The Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, which opens on Thursday, December 9. This is the first time Sleeping Beauty will be performed at the town’s premier arts venue and promises to be a spectacular new production complete with dazzling special effects. Abi made her theatre debut in 2006, earning rave reviews in The Two...

Hampshire ‘foodies’ are busy preparing for a month-long celebration with a host of top chefs showing there support.

Raymond Blanc, James Martin, Ed Baines and more are taking part in the tenth Hampshire Food Festival which gets underway on Thursday, July 1. Last year more than 150,000 people attended events all across the county, pumping £3.1million into the economy.

Television favourite James Martin commented: “I have lived and worked in Hampshire for the past 16 years and I am...