WE'VE rounded up some of this week's most read stories, just in case you may have missed them.

1. New food festival planned for Northington Grange near Alresford sparks opposition from locals

Organisers want to put on a "high-end gourmet food festival" for 12,000 people at The Grange but villagers fear it could evolve into a Boomtown-style music event.

Organiser Brand Events it will be the "ultimate foodie escape" but some local people fear the event and Boomtown, held at nearly the same time, could unofficially merge.

Hampshire Chronicle:

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2. Health managers have apologised for the worsening waiting time in the A&E department

"Unprecedented demand" saw nearly a quarter of patients wait longer than the national NHS target of four hours at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.

Dr Lara Alloway, chief medical officer at the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said patient numbers had risen by eight per cent in 2019.

Hampshire Chronicle:

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3. Hampshire writers have united to raise their voice against Hampshire County Council plans to close 10 libraries

Authors including Neil Gaiman, Chris Packham, Philip Hoare and Claire Fuller signed an open letter printed in this week's Hampshire Chronicle.

They handed the letter into Cllr Séan Woodward at The Castle on Monday.

The county council has launched a public consultation.

Hampshire Chronicle:

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4. An inquest was held for a young mother, aged 32, who died of malnutrition

Charlotte Broad from Fulflood only ate "kids party food", the hearing was told.

But she died after contracting an infection that her weakened body could not counter.

Hampshire Chronicle:

read full story here

5. A father of two, aged 52, was spared an immediate jail term after admitting viewing hundreds of images of child abuse

Stuart Morgan, fromAlresford, was caught with 435 indecent images and movies.

Winchester Crown Court said he had a significant addiction.

Read full story here