Latest news with #Petersfield
BBC News
05-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Fire-ravaged Petersfield flats and businesses await safety checks
A terrace of flats and businesses left roofless following a fire is awaiting a safety inspection before an investigation into the cause can fire broke out at a flat in Lavant Street, Petersfield, on Thursday at about 18:20 BST, with residents and those in businesses and shops underneath forced to fire swept through the flat and spread to the roofs of those neighbouring, causing the building to partially and Isle of Wight Constabulary said emergency services remained on site with road closures expected to stay in place over the weekend. Petersfield Town Council said: "We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the emergency services who responded so quickly and professionally to the incident."Our thoughts are with all the businesses, residents, and individuals who have been affected. We understand the impact this has had on our community, and we stand in solidarity with everyone facing loss or disruption as a result."To those offering help and support - thank you. It is in times like these that the strength and spirit of Petersfield truly shine through." Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service said no injuries were were advised to keep doors and windows closed overnight on Thursday due to the its height, eight fire engines were at the scene along with several other specialist vehicles. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Crews work through the night as Petersfield flat fire spreads
A fire in a flat above a shop spread across the roofs of four other properties with people forced to leave their homes worked to tackle the flames after the blaze broke out in Lavant Street, Petersfield, on Thursday at about 18:20 fire has been brought under control, with crews dampening down and dealing with & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service said no injuries were reported and an investigation into the cause was under way. Residents are being advised to keep doors and windows closed due to the smoke and avoid the area to allow fire crews its height, eight fire engines were at the scene along with several other specialist vehicles. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Multiple fire crews battle town centre flat blaze
Firefighters have been called to a blaze in a building in Petersfield. Hampshire fire and rescue service said it was called to Lavant Street, at 18:20 BST to reports of a flat fire. Crews from across the county have been using breathing apparatus, main jets and hose reel jets to get it under control, and there are eight fire engines at the scene. The cause of the fire is unknown, but the fire service said nobody has been injured and neighbouring properties have been evacuated. Local residents have been advised to keep doors and windows closed due to smoke in the vicinity, and avoid the area where possible. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Multiple Hampshire fire crews called to flat fire in Petersfield
Firefighters have been called to a blaze in a building in fire and rescue service said it was called to Lavant Street, at 18:20 BST to reports of a flat from across the county have been using breathing apparatus, main jets and hose reel jets to get it under control, and there are eight fire engines at the cause of the fire is unknown, but the fire service said nobody has been injured and neighbouring properties have been evacuated. Local residents have been advised to keep doors and windows closed due to smoke in the vicinity, and avoid the area where possible. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Market town jeweller, 66, was found hanged next to his wife's dead body after 'rapid deterioration' of his mental health during Covid, inquest hearing is told
A historic market town jeweller was found hanged near to his wife's dead body at their home after his mental health declined following the 'anxieties and challenges' of the covid pandemic, a coroner was told today. The bodies of Christopher Stone-Houghton and his wife, Ruth, 60, were discovered following concerns over their welfare, a court heard. A pre-inquest hearing was told Mrs Stone-Houghton had suffered fatal head injury, while paramedics tried unsuccessfully to revive her husband. At the time police said they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths. Mr Stone-Houghton, 66, had suffered a 'sudden, rapid and critical deterioration' in his mental health shortly before the incident, a coroner said. The family's jewellery business in Petersfield, Hampshire, had been forced to close during the pandemic. Rachel Spearing KC, assistant coroner for Hampshire, told a pre-inquest review hearing that post-mortem examinations found that Mr Stone-Houghton died as a result of suspension, and the cause of death for Mrs Stone-Houghton was a head injury. She said there had been multi-agency homicide and suicide reviews into the deaths. Winchester Coroner's Court heard that concerns were first raised around Mr Stone-Houghton's mental health at Christmas 2021 and 'active steps' were taken in April of the following year. Six weeks before his death in September 2022, the Portsmouth father was discharged after spending a month at an inpatient unit as a result of a 'serious incident'. A lawyer acting for the family told the pre-inquest review there were 'significant problems' with the hospital care given to Mr Stone-Houghton particularly around medication monitoring and whether he was masking paranoid and delusional thoughts from staff. Ms Spearing explained that the couple had been found at their home on September 14 but there was not any evidence of domestic abuse. She said that Mr Stone-Houghton had both inpatient and community care, and he was last seen two days before his death. The coroner said Mr Stone-Houghton felt 'anxieties and challenges during covid' and was 'experiencing suicidal ideation.' 'He received some inpatient care following a serious incident and was provided with some community care. 'In the months prior the family and friends had continued to express concerns about the care provided to (the Stone-Houghtons)'. She said there had been a 'sudden, rapid and critical deterioration' of Mr Stone-Houghton's mental health, but there was no evidence of domestic abuse. The full inquest - which will take place in December - will also look at the monitoring of Mr Stone-Houghton's gun licence, although a firearm was not used in the incident. In a previous tribute on a fundraising page the couple's son, Oliver, said he was 'inexplicably devastated' by the loss of his parents. In the message he explained that the jewellery business his father had worked at for 50 years and run for around 20 years had closed following the pandemic. Oliver Stone-Houghton said: 'It's hard to put into words how much I miss you both. 'I'm inexplicably devastated beyond belief.' In an online fundraising page posted last year the grieving son told how his father had no prior history of mental ill health when he was diagnosed with 'psychotic depression' in June 2022. He said this followed a 'period of rapidly declining mental health in the lead up to and the closure of a business he had been a part of for over 50 years.' Mr Stone-Houghton said that in the previous months, the coronavirus pandemic had 'removed many of the social ties Dad relied upon to relax and de-stress' and 'brought about incredibly stressful rule changes for the business and also impacted another business my parents ran together.' He went on to say that his mother was 'killed' and his father 'ended his own life' during 'another psychotic episode' - just a day after the couple had enjoyed a day out with friends.
