CASH-strapped local councils across Hampshire spent tens of thousands of pounds on events and decorations to mark the coronation of King Charles III. 

Southampton City Council spent £6,670 in what they described as a 'proportionate and cost effective' celebration of the historic occasion. 

They helped facilitate 46 street parties, and arranged an externally funded giant screen at Westquay Esplanade, as well as welcoming 80 people for tea in the Mayor's Parlour.

Other activities, including a royal display in the SeaCity Museum, coronation banners in the city centre, a knitting contest, illuminating the 02 Guildhall in red, white and blue, and union flags in the parks, came as the council faces the risk of bankruptcy.

Eastleigh Borough Council said they had expected to spend £1600 on 400 meals for a lunch aimed at helping with the cost of living crisis, but confirmed yesterday they had actually spent around £3,100 on the community shindig.

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New Forest District Council confirmed that £435.89 was spent on two official coronation flags for their offices and councillors approved grant funding in the hundreds for several community coronation events and activities.

Fareham Borough Council scaled back their planned spend of £44,010, instead installing commemorative seating in the park and a commemorative brickwork feature at Fareham Live, as well as a new link in the mayoral chain, at a total cost of £14,030.

Test Valley Borough Council planned to spend a total of £41,376.40, including £40,000 on community events and £650 on decorations.

Daily Echo: King Charles III

openDemocracy sent Freedom of Information requests to every local authority in the UK asking how much they were planning to spend on the coronation.

Out of 317 authorities, 286 replied and 160 said they were planning some spending. On average, councils were planning to spend more than £13,000 with 26 shelling out more than £50,000.

They found councils planned to spend £3.8 million in total on events to mark the occasion. 

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Winchester City Council did not reply to the Freedom of Information request or the Daily Echo's subsequent request for information. 

In the rest of Hampshire, spending ranged from nothing in Gosport and Havant to nearly £37,000 in Basingstoke and Deane. Portsmouth City Council listed £10,000 in coronation spending.