October saw shootings, stabbings and a row over the name of the Itchen Bridge dominate the headlines. 

The month started with the tragic discovery of a man’s body at Riverside Park.

This sparked a large-scale emergency service response worrying many residents in the area.

It was later revealed that Derek Burrows, 66, of Monks Way, was found face down in the water.

This was followed by the news that an ambitious bid was being made to rename the Itchen bridge after Saints legend Lawrie McMenemy, in honour of the club's 1976 FA Cup win.

The next day, on October 5, it was revealed that the city council was axing the restaurant services for disabled residents at two council owned blocks of flats – Potters Court and Erskine Court. Residents were up in arms.  

Another blow was felt by Southampton residents after the historic Platform Tavern in Town Quay was hit by a fire, forcing the pub to close for a month.

Daily Echo: Damage to The Platform Tavern forced it to close for a monthDamage to The Platform Tavern forced it to close for a month (Image: NQ)

Later in October, a Thornhill family spoke out about their “week from hell” after being involved in an M27 crash on the way back from having a premature birth.

In the middle of October, a mother of a pupil at Oasis Academy slammed the police for not investigating an attack to her 12-year-old daughter.

On October 17, staff from the University Hospital had their achievements celebrated with an awards evening at the Ageas Bowl.

A day later, a 16-year-old was jailed for two and a half years for stabbing an 18-year-old in Perran Road in Millbrook.  

The boy, then aged 15, was due to fist fight the teenager when matters escalated.

Daily Echo: The police cordon on Perran Road after an 18-year-old was stabbedThe police cordon on Perran Road after an 18-year-old was stabbed (Image: NQ)

As the month drew to a close, gunshots were reported outside Oasis Academy in Sholing sending shockwaves through the local community.

Residents were shocked and worried to learn a shooting had taken place in a quiet Southampton street.

A 26-year-old Southampton man and a 24-year-old Hedge End woman were both detained on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate and assisting an offender.

The man has now been bailed until February 3 and the woman released under investigation.