THE National Trust is to spend £20,000 on tidying up a village eyesore. The organisation is spending the money on re-landscaping a plot of land next to Studland village green. At present the site is littered with rubble and brambles and is home to three
IT WAS a question of guess who isn't coming to dinner when the launch of Poole Arts Centre's new Towngate Theatre season failed to materialise last night. Booking the opening week of a new stage adaptation of Stanley Kramer's classic film Guess Who's
WEYMOUTH 3 ROYAL SIGNALS 2 IN A titanic tie at Redlands, Weymouth progressed to the last 16 of the HA Vase. But their victory was overshadowed by a serious incident involving centre-half Chris Standing. With the hosts leading one nil early in the game
South-West One DORCHESTER 10 CINDERFORD 28 Unbeaten table-toppers Cinderford scorched to a decisive lead in the first half-hour of this South-West One game at Coburg Road. But after being severely tested by their visitors' forward power and incisive back-play
A MUM was 'left for dead' after being knocked from her bike and across a road by a hit and run driver. Care assistant Angela Squires, 30, was riding to work when she was sent flying by a dark-coloured Vauxhall car on the junction of Chickerell Road and
MORE than an inch of rain is forecast for Weymouth today and gales and winds of up to 70mph will batter the Dorset coast. Environment Agency experts are keeping an eye on the River Wey's passage through Weymouth, particularly the Nottington, Broadwey
A WOMAN who planned the burglary of a close friend's home after she was entrusted with the house keys was today freed from prison by three top judges at London's Criminal Appeal Court. Overturning the 12-month sentence imposed on Diane Benham in December
THE DOORS to a village pub that has served locals for more than a century could shut for good if an application to Purbeck council is successful. The brewery that owns The Black Bear in Wool could finally call time on the hostelry if plans for a change
CHRISTCHURCH are playing down reports in a national newspaper suggesting they are on the verge of being named as a feeder club for Conference giants Yeovil Town. The article in Sunday's Non-League Paper claimed that Yeovil are planning to take advantage
GREATER democracy lands on Poole residents' doorsteps this month when the first area committees get off the ground. The five committees covering all 13 council wards will hold meetings across their areas, giving residents the opportunity to go along and
A NEW survey claims nine per cent of Poole Hospital patients felt staff did not do everything they could to help alleviate pain. The revelation is included in the Sunday Times Good Hospital Guide. But bosses at the Poole Hospital NHS Trust claim the national
TORY councillors beat their breasts over enforced council tax rises while LibDems taunted them at a lively meeting in East Dorset last night. More than 20 members of the public attended the district council meeting, angry about the proposed rise. One
THE FAMILY of a Ringwood teenager who died in a hit-and-run accident have welcomed news that the Court of Appeal has been asked to extend the prison sentence given to the driver. Tyre fitter Michael Emm, 22, was jailed for three years following his conviction
THE family of a 12-year-old boy who saved them from a fire sweeping through their home, spoke today of their pride as he received a prestigious bravery award. Charlie Evans, from Milborne St Andrew, received a Chief Fire Officer's Certificate of Commendation
A HUGE army of census takers is being recruited in Dorset to gather information for the planning of public services over the next ten years. 703 census takers are needed to cover the Dorset and Devon area, which consists of the Weymouth and Portland,
PATIENTS at Dorset County Hospital are to act as guinea pigs in a pilot to raise food standards in hospitals. TV star Loyd Grossman has been drafted in by the Department of Health to come up with nutritious meals for the country's hospitals. The Dorchester
TEENAGE hopeful Kerry Winter has won a starring role in a top London talent show while studying for exams in Weymouth. The 15-year-old Wey Valley pupil will be in the spotlight when she sings a solo in the showcase at the London Palladium in April. The
PLANS to slow traffic in Dorchester could ruin an historic conservation area, councillors have been warned. A plan to introduce a 20mph speed limit in Fordington has been criticised over concerns that speed cushions, road crossing points and extra road
DORSET Guides faced the music and danced their way around the world. Over 20 members of the Guiding Association gathered at Puddletown Village Hall to try out dance styles from different countries. The girls, aged ten to 20, stepped to the beat to learn
AN APPEAL to restore a Dorchester war memorial has been given a cash boost. The congregation of Holy Trinity RC Church launched an appeal last year for money to restore the memorial on the church, which was falling into disrepair because of pollution.
TEENAGE defender Matthew Davies is on stand-by for Weymouth's FA Umbro Trophy clash with Ashford Town. Terras boss Andy Mason has enquired about the former Southampton youth team skipper's availability for the fourth round tie following his one-off appearance
MORE than an inch of rain is forecast for Weymouth today and gales and winds of up to 70mph will batter the Dorset coast. Environment Agency experts are keeping an eye on the River Wey's passage through Weymouth, particularly the Nottington, Broadwey
A HUGE army of census takers is being recruited in Dorset to gather information for the planning of public services over the next ten years. 703 census takers are needed to cover the Dorset and Devon area, which consists of the Weymouth and Portland,
BANK charges are far and away the single biggest cause of complaint among current account holders, according to research undertaken by Fleming Premier Banking. Twenty eight per cent of those surveyed said that bank charges - including those imposed when
PURBECK councillors will make a decision on January 30 on the concessionary travel scheme to be introduced this June. The government is requiring all district councils to offer pensioners and the disabled a discount travel deal which provides them with
THE New Year has got off to the worst possible start for more than 100 Poole workers - with two leading employers announcing a rash of redundancies. Specialist engineering company AB Precision will lose between 60 and 70 people, and the corporate take-over
Combination Cup DORCHESTER RESERVES 1 HAMWORTHY UNITED 2 A STUNNING goal totally out of keeping with the rest of a mediocre game deservedly took the Hammers into the Dorset Combination Cup semi-final. A long diagonal ball in from the right was met spectacularly
VALUABLE youth work was recognised at an awards evening in Wimborne. The new district commissioner for scouting Elizabeth Spencer attended the event where Dorset county commissioner Dr James Morton handed out medals and warrants. Becky Roberts received
NOT content with singing Auld Lang Syne to welcome in the new year, managers at a Chinese restaurant decided to summon a colourful dragon to herald their festivities. Diners at the Ming Wah restaurant in St Mary Street, Weymouth, were kept entertained
THERE'S a sense of local pride which makes Joe Montana so popular. Dorset isn't renowned for its Elvis tribute artists and when you have one of the best living on your doorstep, there's no excuse for missing out on the treat. Joe's moving onwards and
A MAN drove at 70mph along Weymouth's sea-front bus lane during a police chase, a court heard. Darren Jason Lively, 29, of Rockhampton Close, Littlemoor, has denied dangerous driving following the incident on May 7 last year. It is alleged he drove an
MONEYFIELDS 2 WEYMOUTH RESERVES 3 WEYMOUTH Reserves had to come from behind to claim all three Jewson Wessex Combination League points at the Moneyfields Sports Ground, writes Paul Baker. The Terras weren't at the races during the early exchanges and
PATIENTS at Dorset County Hospital are to act as guinea pigs in a pilot to raise food standards in hospitals. TV star Loyd Grossman has been drafted in by the Department of Health to come up with nutritious meals for the country's hospitals. The Dorchester
NEW Pirates signing Hans N Andersen will be jetting into England on Thursday to link up with his new club for the first time. The 20-year-old Danish starlet will be meeting Poole Gas Appliance Superstore co-promoters Matt Ford and Mike Golding at Wimborne
CLAIMS from personal injury victims across Dorset and Hampshire are now being vetted more closely under changes to the 'no win no fee' system. The Accident Line hotline co-ordinated by the Law Society is now checking claims more thoroughly to weed out
A PROPOSAL to end the weekly medical surgery service in Studland has met with opposition. The parish council says it will fight the plans to stop scheduled GP visits which will mean villagers - many of them elderly - having to travel to the nearest health
DEFIANT Cherries captain Steve Fletcher has lit the blue touch-paper ahead of tonight's potentially-explosive Division Two showdown at Cambridge United. Fletcher leads Cherries into battle at the Abbey Stadium in a clash which has been labelled as a "
SIXTY East Dorset retailers have been formally recognised for their responsible manner in selling age-restricted goods to young people. The traders were presented with their Responsible Retailers certificates in a recent ceremony in Wimborne attended
A QUARTER of Dorchester businesses are declining and residents are suffering from 'consultation overload', it was claimed at last night's meeting about the town centre. Dr David Evans, district council director of planning and environment, told a special
RANGERS from Dorset Countryside joined forces with the British Trust Conservation Volunteers and users of Bridport Social and Education Centre to plant 600 trees and shrubs at the town's Asker Meadows. The planting was carried out on the town council-owned
SOLDIERS and their families are helping to mould the future of Bovington. Army bosses are planning to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on the camp over the next few months in preparation for the arrival of a new regiment at the base in 2003 And soldiers
RANGERS from Dorset Countryside joined forces with the British Trust Conservation Volunteers and users of Bridport Social and Education Centre to plant 600 trees and shrubs at the town's Asker Meadows. The planting was carried out on the town council-owned
REVISED plans to redevelop the former Bridport Town Council offices were given the go ahead despite fears over the impact on the Borough Gardens and neighbouring homes. Members of the western area planning sub-committee heard the new plan was to convert
A MAGNIFICENT seven Scouts have set foot on the road which will take them on a trip of a lifetime. The Christchurch District group, aged 13-16, have been selected to join Dorset's contingent for the 20th Scout World Jamboree in Thailand next year, where
