BOURNEMOUTH health chiefs are being urged to take more action to tackle the problem of bed blocking in the area's hospitals. Bournemouth and Christchurch's hospitals are among the worst in the country for delays in discharging elderly people from its
A GUTSY pensioner locked two thieves in a bedroom, and fought them off when they smashed her door down, during one of three raids on the elderly on Wednesday. Lilian Martin, 84, sprung into action when she spotted the intruders in the spare bedroom of
NOT everyone is aghast at the government's decision to list the buildings at the head of Boscombe Pier, writes Faith Eckersall. Cordula Zeidler of the Twentieth Century Society, which campaigns and cares for buildings of the last century, and who worked
FIRST it was Yellow Buses turning blue. Now Wilts&Dorset is ditching its familiar red livery for a smart new blue, red and white colour scheme. A modern fleet of 30 single decker buses in the new colours will be introduced to the public in Bournemouth
SOUTH Dorset MP Jim Knight's campaign for a change in driving law has won the support of home secretary David Blunkett. Mr Knight is leading an all-party campaign to bring justice for those killed on the road by wreckless and careless drivers. It follows
ANDREW Lloyd Webber's sweeping Gothic musical, based on Gaston Leroux's novel, is the largest grossing stage production in the world. Since its debut in October 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, The Phantom Of The Opera has played to more than
87 Burley Road, Bransgore; 83361, roof alterations to create additional accommodation within roof; S Denley, C/o Shelley Mews, Shelley Lane, Muscliffe (for C Denley). Plot 7, Brownhill Road, Wootton Farm Estate, Brockenhurst; 83345, dwelling (lawful Development
TWENTY six houses in Dorset and 26 in Hampshire are among the 1,000 in Britain featured in this guide by Jenkins, who describes England's houses as "a treasure trove, a glory of humanity, a wonder of the world". A bit over the top, perhaps, but it is
AFTER thinking her husband had perished on his return trip from Australia, Siana and Francis Matheson settled down to a loving marriage. Francis is content to be a father to his grown-up daughters and to Siana's younger sister Daisy, his own wife being
TWENTY six houses in Dorset and 26 in Hampshire are among the 1,000 in Britain featured in this guide by Jenkins, who describes England's houses as "a treasure trove, a glory of humanity, a wonder of the world". A bit over the top, perhaps, but it is
THE heroine of Morwellham's Child, feisty Rebecca Westbrook, daughter of the harbourmaster in the late 1800s, sets her cap at a poor young cooper rather than being charmed by village newcomer, the financially secure sea captain. Her father insists the
THERE was a major boost for Poole company Hamworthy plc with the announcement on Friday that it had landed major orders worth an estimated £48 million. The company has secured orders and a letter of intent to supply eight ships with liquid natural gas
RADICAL surfwear firm Animal triumphed last night after being named Dorset's number one company. Poole-based Animal lifted the KPMG Company of the Year trophy at the 10th annual Echo-backed Dorset Business Awards. Animal is one of the UK's largest brands
RADICAL surfwear firm Animal triumphed last night after being named Dorset's number one company. Poole-based Animal lifted the KPMG Company of the Year trophy at the 10th annual Echo-backed Dorset Business Awards. Animal is one of the UK's largest brands
THE lives of children and young people in Poole are set to be improved with the creation of a new organisation charged with looking after their health and well-being. A review of the services currently available for youngsters in the area was conducted
Jack and The Beanstalk: Bournemouth Pavilion Panto time arrives in fine style this weekend as Chris Ellison best remembered by telly viewers as hardman cop Burnside from The Bill swaggers onto the Pavilion stage as the baddy in this year's offering Jack
EYE patients have been told they will have to wait months for sight-restoring cataract operations after surgery at Dorset County Hospital was cancelled at the last minute. A series of operations to remove cataracts had been due to take place at the hospital
GUESTS arriving for an opening bash at Weymouth's newest nightspot were turned away because the club was not ready in time. Door staff at Dusk on the Esplanade asked VIPs to enjoy drinks at nearby bars then come back later. Free drinks were then laid
A PENSIONER was left terrified after she encountered a huge black cat while out walking her dog. Julia Gibson and her mongrel Eden were going across heathland near their home in Winfrith when the incident happened yesterday afternoon. They were walking
FOUR out of five Weymouth and Portland residents are backing the 2012 London Olympic bid that could bring sailing events to Dorset. Heavy support for the campaign emerged during a poll of 474 borough residents conducted on behalf of South Dorset Conservative
THERE is just one week left to help us make a difference this Christmas. Over the years our Toy Appeal has provided thousands of gifts for youngsters who would otherwise have very little to look forward to on Christmas morning. With the help of Dorset
THE threat of factories, homes and roads running across greenfield land on the outskirts of Ringwood has been lifted by a government planning inspector who chaired a three-month inquiry last year. For almost 20 years, farmland between Nouale Lane and
A DORSET MP has accused the government of "fiddling" the figures over next year's council tax. And other community leaders are kicking up a fuss at the latest squeeze on hard-pressed Dorset householders who face yet another huge hike in council tax. North
POLITICAL correctness could be the death knell for the children's play area in Uplyme. That is according to Uplyme parish councillor John Duffin, who told Wednesday's parish meeting he thought the play area would go because of molly-cod dling by over-cautious
SURFERS of the internet will be able to log on to a new website for Lyme Regis by Christmas. The town council has been working in partnership with LymeNET, the community learning centre at St Michael's Business Centre, to create a new website for the
FROM tomorrow motorists caught speeding through Uplyme will be given tickets and could receive fines or points on their licence. PC Andy Carmichael told councillors at Wednesday's parish meeting that he had been monitoring speeding through the village
TRAFFIC wardens are ter rorising Lyme Regis and killing off business in the peak shopping season. Thats according to one Lyme Regis fisherman who has been booked three times recently by Dorset County Council parking attendants. Harry May, who runs fishing
VANDALS attempted to destroy a Christchurch road's festive fun when they damaged a Christmas lights display decorating a block of six homes. For the past 10 years, father-of-one Michael Perry has put up strings of fairy lights along the roof guttering
ANGRY residents fighting plans for a giant mobile phone mast at Lyme Regis have persuaded planners to put the scheme on hold. Orange's bid to put up a 17 metre high telecomms tower on a hillside beauty spot overlooking the World Heritage Coast had been
THIS week, I shall be mostly eating... well, less than last week, if I can manage it. You see, it's come to my notice that the Chappell girth is a bit wider than it used to be. It's the small things that drew my attention to it, slowly. The way my clothing
LOAN star John Spicer has ruled out the possibility of joining any of AFC Bournemouth's League One rivals. Spicer is adamant his short-term future lies at Dean Court, providing Cherries can reach an agreement with Arsenal to keep him. And although at
IT'S Bournemouth's newest listed building - but nobody seems to have any idea why. To residents, these four little kiosks and concrete canopy are simply somewhere to shelter from the rain. But heritage minister Andrew McIntosh sees more - much, much more
THE latest black and white ensemble piece from auteur Jim Jarmusch is a series of vignettes, filmed over the course of 17 years, revolving around people drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. The characters include Steve Coogan and Alfred Molina playing
POOR Tom Hanks... You would have thought that with boundary-pushing animation and, in Robert (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump) Zemeckis, a top name director adapting a proven children's book, The Polar Express would be set fair with a full head of steam
After the Sunset (12A) Odeon ** Pierce Brosnan as a master thief who retires with his beautiful girlfriend (Salma Hayek) but still attracts the attentions of FBI agent Woody Harrelson. Slight but entertaining enough. Blade: Trinity (15) UCI, ABC *** See
THE heroine of Morwellham's Child, feisty Rebecca Westbrook, daughter of the harbourmaster in the late 1800s, sets her cap at a poor young cooper rather than being charmed by village newcomer, the financially secure sea captain. Her father insists the
AFTER thinking her husband had perished on his return trip from Australia, Siana and Francis Matheson settled down to a loving marriage. Francis is content to be a father to his grown-up daughters and to Siana's younger sister Daisy, his own wife being
A GUTSY pensioner locked two thieves in a bedroom, and fought them off when they smashed her door down, during the last of three raids on the elderly on Wednesday night. Lilian Martin, 84, sprung into action when she spotted the intruders in the spare
DORCHESTER boss Mark Morris is refusing to go ultra-defensive, even though his side have leaked more goals than anyone else in the league. He plans to put his faith in a three-man attack again when the Dorset Magpies meet Maidenhead United, the Nationwide
WITH their successes snowballing at an astonishing rate, it seems that the More Consultancy Group is opening another division every month, and this month is no exception! Although many businesses are winding down for the Christmas holiday season, Bournemouth
TONY BLAIR says he'll support a change in the law to allow homeowners to tackle burglars "if consultations show it's necessary." And that's the bit to watch. Because you can bet your bottom Euro that the persons "consulted" about all this won't be 90-
GREAT-grandmother Hyacinth Mackintosh celebrated her 100th birthday with a party at Marley House nursing home in Winfrith. Hyacinth still enjoys singing, having been a long-serving member of Winfrith Choral Society, and for many years she was a farmer's
After the Sunset (12A) Odeon ** Pierce Brosnan as a master thief who retires with his beautiful girlfriend (Salma Hayek) but still attracts the attentions of FBI agent Woody Harrelson. Slight but entertaining enough. Blade: Trinity (15) UCI, ABC *** See
I HATE to say "I told you so" but hey. As I predicted two weeks ago, the high-pitched, high-jinxer Joe Pasquale was indeed crowned King of the Jungle during the live, and, thanks to Paul Burrell, hilarious final of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
SCOOTER riding yobs who drive residents mad with their antics will be walking home unless they stop, police have warned. Officers in Canford Heath have already confiscated one scooter after a rise in the number of complaints about youngsters racing, driving
WHEN the chips are down, you can certainly rely on Ken MacKenzie to brighten your day. It's nothing fishy, but the chipper chip shop owner has landed a top award for the nation's best small business boss. Known to his employees as Ken the Cod, the owner
CHUKKI Eribenne is in line to make his debut for Conference side Aldershot at Dagenham tomorrow. The transfer-listed Weymouth striker has joined the Shots on a month's loan with a view to a permanent move. Eribenne, who has not figured at the Wessex Stadium
THIS is the moment a horse was dramatically rescued from a ditch at St Leonards. Firefighters helped free the animal after it became trapped in the mud-filled trench. Staff at the East Moors Equestrian Centre called the vet and the fire service and covered
CHURCH members in Wimborne coughed up an impressive £132,000 in just one "gift day". The money will pay off a hefty chunk of a million-pound youth project, set to open on Easter Day next year. Members hope that the revamped youth lounge, with an internet
Jack and The Beanstalk: Bournemouth Pavilion Panto time arrives in fine style this weekend as Chris Ellison best remembered by telly viewers as hardman cop Burnside from The Bill swaggers onto the Pavilion stage as the baddy in this year's offering Jack
SOUTH Dorset MP Jim Knight's justice campaign for those killed on the road by reckless and careless drivers is being backed by Home Secretary David Blunkett. The Minister gave his support after Mr Knight raised the issue in the House of Commons during
DRINKERS in Weymouth are being put on spike alert this Christmas. As party-goers prepare for the holiday season, police are warning people of the dangers of leaving drinks unattended. It follows incidents where people have complained of substances put
A LYME Regis fishmonger has offered the use of his conveniences to members of the public visiting the Cobb, on the condition that they spend a penny or two for the RNLI at the same time. Simon Bennett, who runs the Fish Shop in Marine Parade, says visitors
