Easter weekend provided mixed fortunes for anglers getting afloat locally. Fresh winds during Saturday and Sunday restricted some boats activities, but overall the past week has continued to provide evidence that confirms a steady improvement in local
The newly appointed Drennan England managers have gone for experience in selecting their first team for the European Championships in Bulgaria during June where they will be defending their title won last year at Nottingham. The six-man squad comprises
A KNIFEMAN threatened to "cut up" a Bournemouth shop assistant during a raid, said police. He demanded that the employee hand over cash during the incident at Clutterbuck Newsagents in Seabourne Road. The terrified victim handed over a sum of money during
SHOCKED friends and colleagues of a football referee who collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack have been paying their tributes. Mike North fell unconscious on the pitch during a Third Division game between Southend United and Mansfield Town at
BARMAID Mary Powell, who has been pulling pints at a Bournemouth pub for 35 years, found herself on the other side of the counter at the weekend when she was toasted by her regulars. More than 200 well-wishers attended a surprise party in honour of the
BLANDFORD made sure they lifted the Dorset and Wiltshire Division Two South title when they hammered Wincanton 46-0 at home. The East Dorset side were far too good for their Wiltshire rivals and comfortably completed a league double. It was a good job
BOURNEMOUTH 1 - STOKE CITY 0 Jermain Defoe blew the play-off race wide open when he netted a stunning first-half winner to give Cherries a potentially-priceless victory over sixth-placed Stoke City last night. The teenage wonderkid bagged a breathtaking
Ferndown: Firefighters tackled a timber fire on Monday night when a blaze began in a joinery. Crews from Ferndown, Redhill and Poole were called to Longham Joinery, Ringwood Road, at around 10.30pm. They discovered an outbuilding containing timber ablaze
A FOOTBALL signed by the stars of Manchester United had soccer fans in a flap at a charity auction held in aid of a threatened bird and wildlife sanctuary. And snooker enthusiasts were equally potty about a full-sized table going under the hammer at the
PARENTS and environmental groups have vowed to carry on fighting genetically-modified crop trials in Weymouth after a fiery public meeting. Around 350 people packed Weymouth Pavilion's Ocean Room last night to put forward their views about the trials,
PLANS have today been put forward for a task force to revitalise Dorchester in the wake of the town's failed shopping development. Traders, councils and civic leaders are set to join forces for an action plan to breathe new life into the town centre.
A PENSIONER and three other women had purses and bags snatched by a thief in Weymouth yesterday. One of the victims, a 74-year-old woman, felt the thief brush against her in the British Heart Foundation shop in St Mary Street and then noticed her purse
ANGRY: Eric Christian and other Damers Road residents fear parking charge rises will increase traffic in their street FAMILIES have reacted with anger to a likely increase in parking charges at Dorset County Hospital. Residents of Damers Road say that
EVERYBODY needs good neighbours and one Aussie has moved all the way to Poundbury believing it's the best place to find them. The new chairman of Poundbury Residents Association came up from Down Under to live in Prince Charles' model village. Rod Power
FOREST Forge Theatre Company complete their latest six-week tour as they bring their curious new production of The 39 Steps back to Dorset and Hampshire. In the hands of the Ringwood-based company John Buchan's classic tale of espionage and intrigue is
BRIDPORT shopkeepers who own pavement space outside their stores could be issued with a 'use it or lose it' warning. Those wishing to keep their reserved space during market days will have to show that they are using it by 8.30am otherwise stallholders
AT least half all homeowners across the South could be keeping thousands of cowboy builders in business by accepting cash-in-hand deals, a report reveals today. Fifty-four per cent of homeowners researched by the National Federation of Builders said they
POOLE Pottery has joined forces with Crummles English Enamels to develop a new range of giftware using new production techniques. The enamelled boxes and ginger jars were inspired by Poole Pottery's award-winning Living Glaze giftware. The two Poole companies
GREAT Britain middle-distance athlete Jenny Brown produced another classy performance to finish third in the prestigious Balmoral international three kilometre road race. The Bournemouth Athletic Club pacemaker broke away with Olympic 800 metres bronze
THERE was a cocktail of fun, fund-raising and fantastic displays in the grounds of a Christchurch pub. The Somerford played host to a four-day Easter extravaganza of family entertainment. Visiting hardware from the emergency services, including the police
A total of 25 Dorset farms lie within the exclusion zone set up after foot-and-mouth was confirmed on a farm close to the county border. It means no animals or manure can be moved from the farms inside the zone in West Dorset, even under licence. Any
CAMPAIGNERS have breathed a huge of relief after it was announced animal carcasses would not end in Dorset landfill sites. Residents had feared animal remains from foot-and-mouth areas could end up in Beacon Hill tip at Corfe Mullen and White's Tip at
FARMERS' markets are making a cautious return to Wareham as the area attempts to recover from the effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis. The market scheduled for March was cancelled but a decision has been taken to allow the April market to go ahead, as
The penultimate round of the Wessex Spring series held at Branksome again produced an excellent turnout and a very close finish - resulting in a real cliffhanger for the final match on April 25 when more than a dozen anglers are in with a chance to carry
HUNDREDS of holidaymakers backed the bid to save the Winter Gardens at the weekend by signing the campaign petition. Councillors opposed to the sell-off were delighted with the support from tourists and day-trippers who queued up in the Square to pledge
A teenager from Bath was chased around Bournemouth after being mistaken for a heartthrob pop star. Fifteen-year-old Angelo Flammia and his family had been looking forward to a short break in Bournemouth. But their peaceful holiday came to an abrupt end
A total of 25 Dorset farms lie within the exclusion zone set up after foot-and-mouth was confirmed on a farm close to the county border. It means no animals or manure can be moved from the farms inside the zone in West Dorset, even under licence. Any
ANIMAL activists sparked a bomb scare that brought chaos to the heart of Poole. A number of town centre premises were evacuated, roads were cordoned off and the bus station closed as police searched for the device. But after a three-hour operation the
FEARS of traffic chaos in Hamworthy, Poole, this summer have been eased after a decision to delay major roadworks. Gas pipeline operator Transco proposed digging up busy Blandford Road to replace a gas main, which could take up to 16 weeks. Now negotiations
BRANKSOME United stormed into the final of the Under-15s Hampshire Cup as they pulled off a shock 3-2 semi-final victory over holders Purbrook Athletic. United thought they were in dreamland after six minutes when they found themselves two goals to the
FOR the second year running Martin Greenslade's South Dorset team have taken the Dorset Squash League Premier Division Title condemning Marshals V5 to second place again. Fittingly the Poole side laid claim to the title with victory over V5 in a match
JERMAIN Defoe grabbed another wonder goal to fire Cherries to within touching distance of the Division Two play-offs last night. Defoe netted with a breathtaking individual effort as Sean O'Driscoll's side edged a step closer to snatching a place in the
ALEC Stock, who died after a long illness on Monday at the age of 84, enjoyed the best result possible in his first match as manager of AFC Bournemouth. Drafted in aged 61 to take over the Dean Court hot-seat in January 1979 following John Benson's resignation
VETERAN folk singer Maddy Prior takes a musical journey through mythology, history and tradition when she plays the Tivoli Theatre at Wimborne tonight. The former vocalist and founder member of '70s folk-rock band Steeleye Span will be accompanied by
A TRIBUTE to two German prisoners of war has Dorchester historians scratching their heads - and Echo readers are being asked to help solve the mystery. The tin mug - which could be a vase for flowers on a grave or a drinking mug - was picked up in a Devon
VANDALS who attacked a pensioner's house could be at risk from asbestos poisoning. Betty Kowalewski says the culprits who smashed in her back door could now be paying the price because it was filled with the deadly building material and she is urging
IT'S different to say the least. As Hollywood prepares to unveil its glittering movie version of Louis de Berniere's bestseller Captain Corelli's Mandolin, former rock musician Mike Maran brings his stage production to Poole. While the tinsel town plays
PIRATES ace Krzysztof Cegielski is all set to jump from reserve to heat leader after only six weeks in British speedway. And the 21-year-old Polish sensation today stressed he was ready to take the promotion in his stride. Cegielski's form has been nothing
