Dear Reader

THE weekend is here and welcome to your bumper edition of The News.

We are all pretty tired of the pandemic and while things may be looking a little brighter with the government’s ‘Plan B’ restrictions ending next Thursday, health chiefs and city leaders are still urging us to be careful.

The full story and advice is on page 4.

Southern Water has continually come in for criticism in recent years and its claim that residents are enjoying ‘excellent’ bathing waters across the south east is ‘laughable’ after repeated sewage discharges into the Solent, say campaigners.

Read all about that on page 7.

We also tell of our poor veterans who were removed from the military due to their sexuality.

Thankfully a review into the impact of an LGBT ban has happened but, incredibly, it has taken 22 years – something that has been described as ‘a national disgrace’. See page 8 for the full story.

Pompey are in action today as they make the long trip to Sunderland. Read all the latest Blues news on pages 46-48.

See you on Monday.

Mark Waldron

Editor