A 24-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with an alleged assault on a profoundly disabled man at a respite home. Dorset police and Poole social services are investigating claims that three of Jamie McManus's toenails and a fingernail were ripped
A DISABLED woman who claims she contracted MRSA at Poole hospital has backed calls for hospitals to be held criminally liable if patients catch the superbug. Rhea Harding, 23, was paralysed from the waist down 13 years ago after having a large tumour
HIGHER rates of people are claiming benefit due to mental problems in Bournemouth than almost anywhere else in the country. A new survey has revealed that more than half the 6,700 local residents who receive incapacity benefit are suffering from mental
PLEASE pick up the phone and get in touch. This is the plea from thousands of families who would like their missing loved ones to get in contact during Missing Persons Awareness Month, May 2005. Research has found that three-quarters of people who do
GRITTY Gary Emerson dug deep into his repertoire of shot-making to beat the elements at a windswept Nissan Irish Open on May 20. Despite the course playing two shots more difficult than the opening day, Emerson improved on his first round 76 by five shots
A FORMER cancer patient at Poole Hospital is giving something back to the doctors and nurses who pulled her through the ordeal, through her love of art. Keen artist Jean Beal was diagnosed with cancer in her right tonsil 18 months ago after finding a
THE family of a Dorset marine who died in Iraq is calling Tony Blair to court to try and force him from office. Father-of-two Sgt Les Hehir, from Parkstone, was killed along with Royal Navy mechanic Ian Seymour when an American helicopter crashed in Kuwait
TINA Harvey's first baby was born three months early weighing just 2lb 12oz. But her latest baby arrived two days late at a whopping 9lb 2oz. Now Tina and husband Martin, 34, of Lincoln Road, Weymouth, are full of praise for the team of paramedics and
DANCE star Kristy Cullen hopes to dance to success this weekend after her partner made a remarkable recovery from a foot injury. The 18-year-old from Weymouth has wowed television audiences across the nation in the BBC primetime show Strictly Dance Fever
A PENSIONER who helped design and build a royal garden is going back after 20 years to see her work in full bloom. Keen gardener, pensioner Sheila Williams now living in Langton Herring planted a herb garden in Highgrove House in Gloucestershire as a
GROVE Infant School on Portland has been recognised as an 'Investor in People' which reflects its success and the dedication of staff, and shows that it is an integral part of the Grove community. Staff, governors and parents are all delighted with the
WEYMOUTH and Portland mayor Lynne Herbert has welcomed a party of visitors from the resort's twin town of Louviers. A special dinner was held for the visitors at the Portland Heights Hotel which was attended by more than 30 guests from Louviers. Mrs Herbert
BIG-HEARTED Weymouth residents are to complete a 13-mile sponsored moonlight walk around the town. Some 50 fundraisers will bare the cold to raise money for charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Organiser Janis Martin said she and her colleagues at Weymouth
BOSS Sean O'Driscoll has opened contract talks with former Cherries loan star Steve Cooke. The 22-year-old winger, who made 10 appearances for Cherries during two separate spells, met O'Driscoll with his agent Anthony McFarlane at Dean Court on May 20
AMID the outpouring of love and good wishes for Kylie Minogue in her breast cancer battle, there was one sour note struck, typically, by a bloke. He called in to the Jeremy Vine Radio 2 show to complain about all the fuss over Kylie when, he said, plenty
WHAT would YOU do with an 80-day break this summer? Local MPs - who are getting the jumbo summer recess in July, plus three weeks at Christmas and half-term next week - claim they'll be working, not skiving. The long break, granted to allow builders to
THE man found guilty of killing South Korean student Jong-Ok Shin was granted leave to appeal against his conviction on May 20. Omar Benguit was jailed for life in February this year after being unanimously convicted of the murder of the 26-year-old language
DRIVERS are set to face more weeks of rush hour misery on one of Bournemouth's busiest routes, as new roadworks start on the Wessex Way near the town centre on Monday May 23. A stretch of dual carriageway just past the Richmond Hill roundabout heading
BOURNEMOUTH'S call of nature has been answered by plans to improve the town's toilet facilities for visitors and residents. Members of the council's Sustaining Our Environment Scrutiny and Review Panel heard that the toilets in Westover Road are going
IT WAS a dream come true for three lucky brides when they each won a stunning gown in our wedding dress competition. Two months ago the Daily Echo teamed up with Bournemouth's new bridal boutique, Tiaras and Dreams, to give away a £2,000 wedding dress
SHEDDING five stone in weight is a commendable feat in itself, but a local woman has achieved it not once but TWICE. Michelle Locke, of Bournemouth, kicked her diet of take-away food, chocolate and crisps into touch to fit into her slinky wedding dress
AMANDA Frost stands up and walks over to the far wall. She starts reading from a poster pinned up there. "The right to feel safe when going out - from strangers, from burglars and from bullying. "The right to feel safe in our own homes, the right to confidentiality
MEETING one-time city whizz kid turned artist Michael K. Freed is an interesting experience. He greets you with a cheery grin and friendly handshake and then warns you that he's "a bit of a miserable bugger." He isn't of course but, heaven knows, he has
THE family of a teenager with behavioural problems is appealing for funds to help him continue the sport he loves. Alex McLeod, 14, suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and has developed a flair for speedway after taking up the
MEMBERS of a cancer support group are demanding action after discovering patients could be missing out on vital treatment because they cannot get to hospital. The Dorset Cancer Network found out that an agricultural worker living in a rural part of the
FOUR hundred colleagues, friends and well-wishers packed a celebration to mark the retirement of Weymouth Police inspector Paul Gillott. The popular officer had many tributes paid to him including a slide show walk down the memory lane of his life presented
A DINOSAUR stopped traffic in Dorchester as a colourful cavalcade of costumes swept through the town's historic streets. Drivers watched open-mouthed as characters representing millions of years of Dorchester's history marched down High East Street and
THOMAS Hardy would be amused. His Victorian villa on the outskirts of Dorchester is not only attracting tourists but now, apparently, a big cat as well. Max Gate, where Hardy wrote Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure and The Mayor of Casterbridge
AN asphalting gang has been condemned for preying on an elderly victim in Barton-on-Sea. A sick 88-year-old woman was driven to her bank and her building society and forced to withdraw more than £1,000 to pay for work carried out on her driveway. The
