BOURNEMOUTH has scooped another top accolade after travel professionals voted it Britain's best resort. The latest gong came from the magazine Group Leisure, whose awards are based on votes by organisers of group travel visits. The award, rated among
BROCKENHURST and Bashley served up a seven-goal thriller at Grigg Lane last night in the first round of the Russell Cotes Cup with the Dr Martens' Eastern Division outfit coming out on top with a one goal advantage. Craig Anstey and Dave Wakefield gave
WIMBORNE manager Andy Read believes his side's impressive 18-0 home win over Stow-on-the Wold has confirmed they could be a handful to handle in South West Division Two East this season. The Leigh Parkers built up a 13-0 half time lead through tries from
A FARMERS' market could form part of a new summertime attraction in Weymouth. Such markets have proved a hit with shoppers in towns across Dorset and are now set to take the resort by storm. Dorset market giant Ensors is proposing to run an open-air summer
A 64-YEAR-OLD motorist has become a victim of wheelchair rage. He was twice punched in the face by a man who leapt from a wheelchair before assaulting him. Police said the incident happened on Lanehouse Rocks Road in Weymouth, near the Esso garage. They
A CONCERNED councillor today warned of uproar and traffic chaos in Dorchester if a major revamp goes ahead at a busy junction. Coun Andy Canning fears a circular one-way system at Maumbury Rings could place the new skatepark at risk, increase some journey
BSO VIOLINIST John Clarkson is out to add not one but TWO new strings to his bow! For the ever-enthusiastic John is setting up his own professional string quartet as well as heralding the return of string teaching to Winton Boys School to help ensure
MOVES to increase some car parking charges by 10 per cent in Dorchester and West Dorset were backed at a council meeting. Councillors supported the proposal as part of West Dorset District Council's wider financial strategy before its budget is finally
LEGENDARY hard rockers Wishbone Ash are still living up to their reputation for no-nonsense rock and roll as Friday's audience at the Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne will attest. Still lead by founder member, Andy Powell, the band came together in the late 60s
CARDBOARD cut-outs replaced Tory councillors when they failed to turn up at a meeting. The cut-outs were part of a protest by Liberal Democrat councillors who claim their Conservative counterparts are not pulling their weight. The demonstration came at
STAFF were rewarded for helping the Dorset County Hospital to hit top marks in national rankings with an extra day's holiday each. Bosses gave all workers the bonus as recognition for helping the West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust win three stars
BRAVE Margaret Sherratt raised cash for specialist units in Dorchester despite suffering setbacks in her fight against breast cancer. The Salvation Army stalwart drummed up £520 from a coffee morning while undergoing a gruelling programme of chemotherapy
CEM (Conference & Event Management) Group now has full ownership of the trade-only Hotel and Catering Exhibition at the BIC on March 11 & 12 2003. The show is the largest hospitality trade show in the South and attracts exhibitors and trade visitors
BOSS Frank Harvey believes the dream of a third round clash with giants Manchester United is all the motivation his young guns will need after Bournemouth Poppies under-18s made it into the first round proper of the prestigious FA Youth Cup for the first
POOLE AC completed the track season in fine style at the Exeter Multi-Events meeting. Richard Reeks, 31st in the English Schools octathlon the previous week, dominated the under-17s to win the less pressured Devon event with a personal best 4,335 points
THE future of Wimborne Folk Festival, famed as the event which put the Dorset town on the map, is under threat. Organiser Brian Bisp spoke frankly to the Echo claiming he would have to make his mind up within days as to whether to go ahead with the hugely
DORSET is enjoying a sunshine success story that weathermen say could last until the middle of October. The county's glorious autumn weather has smashed visitor records and helped the holiday season end on a high note. There is more fine weather to come
PARTYGOER Phyllis Rant journeyed more than 200 miles to toast her sister's 100th birthday in style. Mrs Rant, 98, who lives at Grosvenor House rest home in Weymouth, travelled to Shropshire to help her sister Ruby Williams crack open the bubbly at a family
A DORSET activity centre has become so popular it is closing its doors to the public. New Barn Field Centre in Bradford Peverell opened 10 years ago and has always been available to both pre-booked school groups and the general public. But the centre
DORSET schools are still waiting for the clearance of more than 900 staff by the Criminal Records Bureau, including 650 teaching staff, a month after schools first opened for the new term. Newly qualified teachers and those moving schools have to undergo
A CHANGE is being proposed to the way all requests for parking spaces for disabled people are assessed throughout Weymouth and Portland. Coun Andy Blackwood wants colleagues to back an approach where a parking space will be issued if either a day or night
YOUTH team prospect Tim Bond has been drafted into Sean O'Driscoll's first-team squad to act as cover for Cherries' mounting central defensive crisis. The cultured 17-year-old has been put on stand-by to travel to Lincoln on Saturday and could make the
