HAVE you ever wanted to prove you can write as well as the Echo's award-winning columnists? Well, now's your chance for as part of Local Newspaper Week, we are giving our talented readers the chance to produce their own words of wisdom. The challenge
AN INQUEST is to be held into the election blunders which are likely to cost Bournemouth's council tax payers tens of thousands of pounds. Bournemouth Borough Council sent out 125,000 replacement polling cards in the first-class post ahead of last week's
HUNDREDS of snorkellers are to attempt a world record dive at Swanage to raise funds in memory of murdered teenager Milly Dowler. An advance group of 14 snorkellers visited the town over the Bank Holiday weekend to do a "reccy" snorkel around the old
IT'S not the kind of surprise everyone would relish. Joan Cook was told her family had arranged for her to plunge 110ft off the water tower at Poole's Tower Park. Even though Joan, from Kitchener Crescent, is deaf and has trouble balancing, that didn't
WEYMOUTH Sports hope to end their season on a high when they entertain Gillingham Town at Cranford Avenue tonight, ko 6.30pm. Having secured their Dorset Premier League status with a shock 4-2 win over leaders Hamworthy United last week, boss Adie Chance
WHAT is it about Davey Watt and rider replacement? It seems that every time Pirates need their young Australian to come in and take extra rides he shoulders the responsibility with aplomb. He certainly did last night as he scorched to his highest score
BUDMOUTH Technology College has earned a prestigious sports award. The Chickerell secondary school was presented with a Sport England Sportsmark Award in the mid-1990s and has become the only school in the county this year to be presented with the next
THE world's oldest identical male twins are preparing to beat odds of 700 million to one after celebrating their 99th birthday. William and Fred Barrett, 98, who were born in Sydling St Nicholas in 1904, are now planning the party for their centenary
CHILDREN got on their bikes for Leukaemia Research at the annual Blue Peter bikeathon. Around 150 youngsters cycled around the one-and-a-half mile Osprey Quay course on Portland, which they were able to ride around as many times as they liked. Mayor of
PLANS for a return to a rail passenger service between Swanage and Wareham have been boosted by a Dorset County Council proposal to buy £50,000 worth of rolling stock. The authority pledged £250,000 over the next three years to the Purbeck Rail Partnership
A LANDMARK legal battle to halt the damaging disappearance of local care homes has ended in defeat for council planners. New Forest District Council, backed for the first time by Hampshire social services, took a stand over plans to replace the Yeoman's
A MAN has been jailed for 10 years for raping two girls aged 12 and 13. Mark Henning, 34, of Dudmoor Farm Road, Christchurch, pleaded guilty to raping, indecently assaulting and taking indecent photographs of the girls. He also pleaded guilty to offences
Local Newspaper Week was launched yesterday to celebrate the role of the regional newspaper industry. Organised by the Newspaper Society, the voice of Britain's regional and local press since 1836, the annual event is aimed at highlighting the important
THE Winter Gardens is set to be re-opened following last week's dramatic election results in Bournemouth. Housing developer Barratt, which planned to demolish the concert hall, had not signed contracts on the deal by polling day last Thursday. The Liberal
A NEW book packed with engravings, many dating back to the days before the photograph, open a window on to Dorset's rich heritage. In the introduction to Alan W Ball's book, Dorset Illustrated, the author writes that the object was to "provide a view
IS it a reflection or could it, just possibly, be the face of the ghost of Mary Bonham Christie, the reclusive grand owner of Brownsea Castle who died on the very day she left the island? The photo was taken through a window of Brownsea Castle by Mrs
A STEP back in time to life in the 12th Century was enjoyed by visitors to Corfe Castle over the weekend. As part of a Bank Holiday weekend special the National Trust attraction welcomed the living history group - the Feudal Archers - into its grounds
GLOUCESTERSHIRE seconds young gun Tom Stayt did the damage as he claimed six scalps to consign battling Dorset to a two-wicket friendly defeat at Dean Park. The 17-year-old right-arm seamer started his wicket spree dismissing of Dorset opener Neil Thurgood
THIS is the first picture to be published of the man who died after allegedly being assaulted in Poole town centre. The family of Stephen Harber have spoken of their loss after the 50-year-old died in Poole hospital. Stephen had been in a permanent vegetative
THE mother of a paper boy who was hit by a car and left injured in the middle of a busy road is calling for witnesses to come forward to find the "heartless" driver. Twelve-year-old Richard Ruddy was cycling along Albert Road on his delivery round when
HAMWORTHY United took a giant step towards Elite Teamwear Dorset Premier League title when they beat third-placed Hamworthy Recreation 3-1 at the County Ground. The victory left the Hammers needing a win against Shaftesbury at home tonight (6.30pm kick-off
DORCHESTER Reserves finish their Dorset Premier League season at Stourpaine tonight - but manager Phil Simkin is already planning for the next campaign. "We want to keep the majority of this season's squad because they are mostly young lads who are getting
CHRIS Peters has been named Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club's first team Player of the Year. The talented prop collected his award at the Swans' Captain's Night, which was held at their Bestwall headquarters. Other winners included Richard Harwood (Team
KEIRON Morrissey from Preston is the Dorset red mini tennis champion. Seven-year-old Keiron, who plays at both Dorchester and Weymouth Tennis Clubs, defeated Jack Notley 7-4 in the county final at Bourne-mouth after winning a qualifying competition at
Tetley's County Shield Bucks 6 Dorset & Wilts 38 DORSET & Wilts took their first step towards Twickenham with a committed County Shield display at Buckinghamshire. But despite the victory, manager Martin Hill reckons there's room for improvement
FORMER Premiership star Matty Holmes has been voted Dorchester FC Player of the Year by Dorset Echo readers. The popular Magpies player-coach received over 60 per cent of the votes cast in the poll. He also picked up a host of other awards after the Magpies
STEVE Claridge will pay tribute to David Laws by playing in his testimonial game tomorrow night. The former Terras, Birmingham City and Portsmouth striker lines up in a Weymouth Select XI against Nationwide Conference champions Yeovil Town at the Wessex
TEAM manager Neil Middleditch labelled Pirates reserve Davey Watt a "revelation" after his star performance in a 60-30 home win over Eastbourne last night. Watt scorched to 10 paid 14 points as six-man Poole Meridian Lifts crushed the Eagles to move to
HIGHWAY chiefs are expected to slash the speed limit on a busy rural route following a long campaign by residents. Dorset County Council proposes to cut the speed limit on the Horton Road from 60mph to 40mph amid claims it would reduce accidents. There
DORCHESTER pub operator Eldridge Pope is remaining tight-lipped amid rumours of multi-million-pound takeover talks. The 180-year-old chain, which was started up in the county town by two local families, could soon be snapped up by Wolverhampton and Dudley
THE best-dressed well in Weymouth has been given its yearly decoration. Arches behind Upwey Wishing Well have been given a distinctly Romanesque appearance inspired by the frescoes of Pompeii. The well, at the source of the River Wey, is dressed every
THE owner of a Dorset skip hire company who was repeatedly warned to clean up his act has been fined for a number of waste offences. During a routine inspection of Sydling Skip Hire at Kingcombe Cross, Rampisham, near Dorchester, on December 12 last year
THOUSANDS of people descended on Blandford on Bank Holiday Monday for the historic market town's 12th Georgian fair. There was entertainment for all ages and tastes with residents and traders celebrating the May Day bank holiday in traditional style.
ELIGIBLE women may be delighted to hear there could be a golden opportunity to marry into a royal family. What they might not be so keen on is the fact they won't be the only wife. The ruler of the African state of Swaziland King Mswati III, who was educated
CHAIRMAN Peter Phillips turned emergency salesman yesterday as Cherries fans clambered to get their hands on play-off tickets. Despite Bury being confirmed as Cherries' semi-final opponents over the weekend, desperate fans thought they would have to wait
