August began with the news that a former Southampton pub was going to be knocked down and rising fears over a riot in the city.

The month also kicked off with a former pub, the Quayside, being bulldozed as the demolition of the former Leisure World site began. 

The first week of August also saw a warning from religious leaders and campaigners across Southampton who told right-wing protestors they are 'not welcome' in Southampton. 

Anti-racism campaigner, working in Southampton for more than 50 years, Jayanti Shah MBE said: "This is about people refusing to accept those with a different culture as their neighbour."

August 7, the day of the protest, saw anti-racism and anti-immigration groups face off in Grosvenor Square, with police making a number of arrests - and stopping the two groups from coming to blows. 

A day later, a major Southampton road - Oaktree Road - was closed after a collision between a car and a 13-year-old e-scooter driver. 

August 7 saw a popular city centre coffee shop targeted during a burglary. 

Staff at Muse Coffee in Portswood was broken into, with masked men taking an empty till. Blood spatters were left everywhere in the coffee shop.

After a tragic crash the month prior, August 9 saw a 22-year-old motorcyclist named by the coroner.

Brandon Fielder from Hedge End was killed on Barnfield Way - sparking calls for safety measures to be introduced on the road. 

The busy Bitterne Road West was closed on August 10 after an HMO caught fire causing homes to evacuate. 

Later in the month, on August 18, a large emergency response was called to Swaythling station after a person was hit by a train. 

One of the most shocking stories of August saw the mum of a 15-year-old Southampton boy tell the Echo: "A boy plunged a 12-inch zombie knife into my son’s head."

The incident took place at Bitterne Railway station with a 15-year-old arrested by police. 

The end of the month saw the shock closure of a beloved Eling pub after 171 years of serving happy drinkers. 

The King Rufus at Eling Hill said goodbye to customers at the end of August after owners, Cat and Mike Wallace, announced they made the difficult decision to sell the pub.