A CONFIDENTIAL report following an investigation into the state of Dorset's ambulance service is being studied by bosses. It comes in the wake of claims that staff are "completely demoralised" and the calling into question of the accuracy of 999 response
A CONFIDENTIAL report following an investigation into the state of Dorset's ambulance service is being studied by bosses. It comes in the wake of claims that staff are "completely demoralised" and the calling into question of the accuracy of 999 response
IT'S a puzzle designed to test even the most experienced mathematician - when is three per cent not three per cent? The riddle has confused council officials at Purbeck District Council, who have just been told they are to get a three per cent increase
Powergen South-West Division Two East STOW-ON-THE-WOLD 14 DORCHESTER 5 Dorchester came back from the picturesque Cotswolds wondering how on earth they managed to lose this game. Despite the now routine multiple changes and late call-ups the visitors started
Dorset & Wilts Division One Weymouth 22 Blandford 7 BLANDFORD'S day out at the seaside proved a fruitless one with Weymouth running out comfortable winners. The north Dorset club, were slow to get going although they did come back into the game late
Powergen South-West Division Two East STOW-ON-THE-WOLD 14 DORCHESTER 5 Dorchester came back from the picturesque Cotswolds wondering how on earth they managed to lose this game. Despite the now routine multiple changes and late call-ups the visitors started
WEYMOUTH College's volleyball team has proved to be the best in the South West. The under-19s team won the British Colleges Sport South West Volleyball Championships held in St Austell, Cornwall. Coach James Dunlop said: "The team won conclusively. They
MORE than 550 new homes could be developed if a major scheme on Portland is backed by planners. The Hardy complex of former naval accommodation, off Castle Road, has been empty since the Royal Navy pulled out of Portland in the mid-1990s. Now London-based
A HEADTEACHER has turned lollipop lady to guide her pupils across a busy road after Wessex Water turned off traffic lights outside Weymouth's biggest school. The water company's £2 million programme of works - which transport chiefs fear is strangling
THEY ARE piling up the gifts at Howley's Toy Shop in Weymouth as staff and customers support the Echo's third Christmas Toy Appeal. John Bentley, manager of the shop, said: "We're delighted with the generosity of the Weymouth community. "It's great that
THIS is the moment of triumph when the Echo-sponsored Dorset Business Awards winners and runners-up were united on stage to salute each other's success. Representatives from winners VAI UK, Cobham as well as DEK were joined by counterparts from finalists
WEMBLEY survivor Neil Young believes Sean O'Driscoll's young guns should be focusing on LDV Vans Trophy glory after admitting Cherries' final outing four years ago "was by far the biggest day of my career". Speaking ahead of their Southern Section quarter-final
THINGS that go bump in the night are all around us, in nearly every nook and cranny of the Daily Echo coverage area. And, according to historian Michael Hodges, the conurbation's most ancient borough, Christchurch, is the haunted hot spot. Mr Hodges has
Hampshire LeagueDivision One SALISBURY 2 WEYMOUTH 6 WEYMOUTH returned to winning ways with a 6-2 thumping of Salisbury. And the leaders were back in sparkling form in an end to end encounter with their Wiltshire rivals. The Seasiders now lead Hampshire
Friendly PUDDLETOWN 27 POOLE 5 What should have been a league fixture at Greenfields was played as a friendly after Poole's recent decision to withdraw from Dorset & Wilts Division Two South. The game started with the home backs on the attack and
FRAILITY in the English character is partly responsible for our cricketers lamentable performance in Australia, according to a majority of voters in our website poll. Fifty four per cent thought our Englishness contributed, whereas 46 per cent did not
CONTROVERSIAL plans to compile a domestic violence register have been welcomed in Dorset. Ministers are considering setting up a list of the names and addresses of every person convicted of assaulting their partner, similar to the register already in
IF YOU thought it was cold at the moment, brace yourself - because it's going to get worse. Temperatures across the area look set to drop to freezing this week thanks to the biting east winds blowing in from Russia. Temperatures in Russia are averaging
WHILE Father Christmas has been scurrying around collating children's wish lists, the equally-industrious Dorset writer Rodney Legg has been compiling tidings from Purbeck's Christmas past. A Purbeck Christmas (Halsgrove, £14.95) brings together a wealth
A RECENT report confirmed Poole Harbour's status as one of the best sites for wintering wildfowl and waders in the UK. Thanks to its size and diversity of natural habitats, the harbour provides extensive breeding, roosting and feeding areas for a significant
CONCERNED residents' associations are calling for consistent cycling laws to replace the "contradictory" situation along Poole's promenades. Cyclists currently enjoy free rein on one selected part of the seafront but are governed by strict rules when
POOLE Harbour could become a destination for visiting cruise ships. The man in charge of the Poole Port is meeting cruise operators today to promote the town as an ideal stop-off and boarding place for seagoing passengers. While giant ocean liners such
DORCHESTER Athletic Club is celebrating another success at national level after 11-year-old javelin thrower Jemma Tewkesbury was named in the UK's top ten for her age group. In her first season of javelin throwing, she recorded the eighth best throw of
DORCHESTER'S Nikki Hamblin and Poole AC's Chris Efford were the individual stars in the second round of the Dorset Sportshall League. But the team-standing with one match to go sees Poole Runners top in three competitions and Dorchester well clear in
Powergen South-West Division Two East AMERSHAM & CHILTERN 3 SWANAGE & WAREHAM 22 ON A bitterly cold day, high up in the Chiltern Hills, Swanage & Wareham easily overcame bottom of the league side Amersham. And their 22-3 victory means the
AS hoaxes go, it really does take the biscuit. The elaborate spoof which has caused some embarrassment at a Belgian newspaper named a stonemason and son of a donkey breeder from Abbotsbury as the true sculptor of the famed Elgin Marbles. The Greek masterpiece
STALLS did a roaring trade when Weymouth's Radipole County Primary School held its winter fun night. The main school hall and several classrooms were packed with Christmas visitors while the barbecue and Santa's grotto both did brisk business. Youngsters
SURF'S up - and Aussie panto beauty Madeleine West is feeling right at home on Weymouth beach. The stunning soap star has arrived from Down Under to take the lead role in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Pavilion Theatre, and yesterday she confessed
THE Healthy Living Project, aimed at improving lifestyles in Weymouth and Portland, was hailed a success today. More than 400 people have seen improvements to their health as a result of starting a programme through the project's exercise referral scheme
MARATHON man Robbie Hoodless got the shock of his life when he was presented with a charity award. Robbie, 65, has collected thousands of pounds for the Batten Support and Research Trust in Weymouth after running four marathons on behalf of the charity
TORIES have clashed with South Dorset Labour MP Jim Knight in a row over Government grants to the county. South Dorset Conservatives' parliamentary spokesman Ed Matts has accused Mr Knight of trying to conceal "the true nature of this disastrous settlement
SIBERIAN huskies dashed through a weekend of exhilarating dog sled races in Wareham Forest. The Affiliated British Sled Dog Activities (ABSA) event was organised by Graham Good and his partner Susan Blake, and was the fourth out of six meets that make
CHRISTMAS puddings made in Dorset will be making mouths water in royal circles as personal gifts from the Prince of Wales. The exclusive organic festive desserts are set to tickle tastebuds after being selected as gifts by Prince Charles to thank people
AFTER seven years of campaigning the largest skate park in Dorset has finally opened in Blandford. The state-of-the-art facility is the first skate park in the country to feature the innovative RampSkin riding surface which creates less noise, is more
PLANS for a complete overhaul of the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) will move the burden of proof to contractors and could encourage tax evasion, it is feared. Not only will construction companies be affected but any organisation which spends more
CHERRIES are waiting to discover whether their FA Cup second round replay against Southend will be televised live by Sky Sports. The Dean Court showdown is one of only four replays due to take place on December 17 and could be broadcast on Sky Sports
