Dorset and Hampshire Live: Friday 20 January

An English town has made a statue of the much-loved writer - but Jane Austen's appearance is a mystery.

Southampton boss Claude Puel praises his team's "perfect" performance in a 3-0 win against Leicester at St Mary's.

Thanks for joining us today. We'll be back from 08:00 on Monday with the latest from across the three counties.

Have a good evening!

A woman has been jailed for 12 months for injuring an off-duty policeman who had challenged her for drink driving in Bournemouth.

Jemma Louise Whibley's car lurched forward and hit the officer in West Howe on 2 March 2016, causing him to fall on to the bonnet.

As Det Con Bryan Whiting attempted to take the keys out of the car, Whibley pulled away with him hanging out of the window.

Dorset PoliceCopyright: Dorset Police

35-year-old Whibley, of Oakhurst Road, West Moors, was found guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court of causing the officer a serious foot injury by dangerous driving.

She had previously pleaded guilty to drink driving after her alcohol level was found to be nearly four times the legal limit.

Sunshine on a snow glob scorched a woollen throw and almost started a fire, prompting fresh warnings from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue.

Safety officers are urging people not to leave curved glass ornaments or mirrors near windows and to be aware where sunlight falls in the home.

Engineers, who began work on Thursday to replace a gas main in Weymouth, have said the B3159 Dorchester Road will remain closed for "a few weeks".

Gas firm SGN said the "complex engineering project" meant the road would be shut near the Manor roundabout.

Dorset County Council said it expected the road to remain closed until 3 February.

A man has been convicted of 17 sexual offences against young girls and women in the Ringwood area.

John Cooper, 57, previously of Hurst Road, admitted 15 offences including assault by penetration, and was found guilty by a jury of rape and one other offence.

He is due to be sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 16 February.

A man has been robbed after answering a call for help in a public toilet in Bournemouth, police have said.

The victim opened a cubicle door to lend assistance and was confronted by a man who threatened to stab him if he did not hand over his wallet.

A second man also threatened the victim, who sustained slight injuries and was left "very shaken".

Police have appealed for information about the incident in Leslie Road at about 13:00 GMT on Wednesday.

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Live video direct from Portsmouth this afternoon of the anti-Trump protest in the city.

If you can't see it, take a look on the BBC South Today Facebook page instead.

West Ham are on the verge of completing the signing of Jose Fonte from Southampton.

The 33-year-old is understood to have chosen West Ham from a number of options, having told Saints earlier this month he wished to leave St Mary's Stadium.

As the transfer was not concluded by midday, Fonte will not be available to feature in Slaven Bilic's squad to play Middlesbrough at the Riverside tomorrow.

PACopyright: PA

One of our readers, Alexander Allen, has kindly sent in some pictures from an earlier fire in the boys' toilets at a school in Dorset.

Fire crews were called to Corfe Hills School, Broadstone, at 10:40 GMT.

They extinguished the fire within minutes and left soon after.

Alexander AllenCopyright: Alexander Allen

Alexander AllenCopyright: Alexander Allen

Alexander AllenCopyright: Alexander Allen

Kings Theatre in Portsmouth has been awarded £9,900 in Heritage Lottery Funding for its Theatre of War project which will focus on the role of the theatre during World War One.

Residents, troops and nurses were entertained at the theatre by some of the biggest stars of the period, offering them the chance to forget about the horrors of war for a few hours.

Kings TheatreCopyright: Kings Theatre

Volunteers will collect stories, photographs, clippings and keepsakes to inform a documentary film by pupils of St George's Beneficial School.

The research will also be curated into a permanent exhibition at the Kings Theatre and a touring exhibition for the wider community.

Three fire crews have been sent to a Dorset school to deal with a fire in a downstairs toilet.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service was called to Corfe Hills School, Broadstone, at 10:40 GMT.

Crews tackled the fire within minutes and left at 11:12 GMT, the service said.

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