THRILLED fund-raisers from a Poole charity have announced their delight following the announcement that their royal patron and his wife are to have a baby. Staff and volunteers at Dorset Headway have congratulated the Earl and Countess of Wessex on their
A YOUNG man who sparked a major alert by barricading himself in a Bournemouth house for two-and-a-half-hours on Wednesday (May 7) was later pronounced dead at hospital. Officers dressed in riot gear broke into the house in Tytherley Green, Throop, after
STRUCTURAL work on the parking facilities at Bournemouth's Castlepoint development is still being carried to ensure the car park can take the weight of a fire engine, say developers. But developers have given a pledge to shoppers that every current car
IAN and Lynn Foster took the main honours during Poole Yacht Racing Association's Spring Regatta. The weekend's racing proved a success despite being at the end of a week of strong winds and rain. Fortunately the forecast for Saturday and Sunday was optimistic
A homeless alcoholic sentenced to 24 days in prison for breaching Dorset's first antisocial behaviour order has vowed to stop drinking. Anthony Slater, 51, denied breaking the order on two separate occasions. On March 26 magistrates banned him from drinking
CAMPAIGNERS who fought a successful battle to keep a coastguard helicopter at Portland threw a party to celebrate their victory. More than 150 people turned up to the event last night at the Royal Dorset Yacht Club at Weymouth harbour, organised by owner
ONE child in five in Dorset has special educational needs, it has been revealed. More than 11,000 of the county's five to 16-year-olds have learning difficulties - with 1,950 having needs that are particularly severe. The news comes as for the first time
A NEW official guide to the Jurassic Coast backed by Prince Charles is published this week in a bid to attract more visitors to the World Heritage Site. Entitled A Walk Through Time, the 64-page illustrated guide contains a large fold-out map and sections
WAR hero Cliff Walbridge is fighting for Army medals he won but never received in the siege of Malta 60 years ago. The former Dorsetshire Regiment soldier braved Nazi bombs on the Mediterranean island when it withstood a three year onslaught in the Second
A CIVIC chief has hit back at claims that he left without paying his debts, counterclaiming that money was improperly deducted from his final settlement. And his old council is conducting an investigation into the leaking of confidential information.
A CENTURIES old tradition was observed on Sturminster Marshall village green when local children danced around the Maypole. The sun shone as about 90 pupils from Sturminster Marshall First School took part in the historic Maypole dance. A school spokesperson
A MAJORITY of voters on the Echo website say Manchester United should sell David Beckham to Real Madrid? Fifty-five per cent of voters said utd should offload their prize asset, whereas 45 per cent of people said they should not. See the home page to
A STOLEN bread lorry lurched out of a depot yesterday and smashed up four cars before its hijacker jumped from the cab and staggered off with three neighbours in hot pursuit. Lorry driver Neil Hurman, 40, was in the back of his articulated vehicle at
A FINAL decision on controversial plans for a field studies and visitor centre at Hengistbury Head is expected in early July. Hundreds of residents who attended an information meeting at Bournemouth's Pavilion ballroom last night heard that amended plans
THIS is the £35m state-of-the-art maternity, neonatal and gynaecology hospital that could bring Poole's facilities into the 21st century. The plans would see the current maternity hospital in St Mary's Road completely redeveloped and transformed into
HE pledged to fight crime and vandalism but only days after failing to win a seat in the council elections Reg Chissell has become a crime statistic. His livelihood as a roofer has been thrown into jeopardy after thieves targeted his van and stole £1,500
THIS is the £35m state-of-the-art maternity, neonatal and gynaecology hospital that could bring Poole's facilities into the 21st century. The plans would see the current maternity hospital in St Mary's Road completely redeveloped and transformed into
DOZENS of people are queuing up to give evidence at the public inquiry to determine whether or not an East Dorset beauty spot should be registered as a town green. Councillor Douglas Lock, who is leading the case to save Ferndown Common from any future
Enthusiasts from around the country claim they will stay away from the Weymouth Folk Festival in a row over entertainment licences. Licensing laws state that premises hosting more than two people deemed to be singing, dancing or performing should have
SIX people will be made redundant when the Thomas Hardy Brewery stops its wines and spirits bottling operation next week. The brewery is closing the operation after losing two major customers, its finance director Neil Voss says. But it will continue
PEOPLE living near the proposed route of the longed-for Weymouth relief road accepted today that the future could be orange. Maps and designs highlighting the path of the £42 million Orange Route scheme, which Dorset County Council adopted in January,
BRIDPORT is on the up. That was the message from mayor Geoff Ackerman despite only six members of the public turning up to the town's annual meeting. He told the small gathering in the town hall that many initiatives were under way and that the town of
THE world famous Red Arrows will again be the star attraction at this year's Weymouth Carnival organisers revealed today. The top-flight aerobatic team are due to demonstrate their gravity defying stunts on August 20. Carnival organisers - Weymouth and
A CIVIC chief has hit back at claims that he left without paying his debts, counterclaiming that money was improperly deducted from his final settlement. And his old council is conducting an investigation into the leaking of confidential information.
