HOLT United climbed to the top of the Elite Teamwear Dorset Premier League table after a 4-0 home win over Bournemouth Sports. Lee Bradford gave Holt the lead on 52 minutes, before an own goal from Paul Mitchell doubled the host's advantage after 65 minutes
FINANCIAL services companies' profitability rose at its fastest rate for three years, new information reveals today. Business volumes and optimism increased for the third quarter in a row, according to the study by the CBI and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
A DORSET sculptor claims that one of the artworks suggested for the controversial fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square is "extraordinarily similar" to a work that he produced more than 12 years ago. Anthony Hedgecock says that Mannequin - a work by the Yorkshire
RUNNERS pounded the streets around Milborne St Andrew to raise hundreds of pounds for a local school. Nearly 300 people put on their running shoes yesterday and joined the village's annual road race, now in its 20th year, which took a 10-mile circular
FREE parking could be a thing of the past in most of Bournemouth's town centre later this year. Pay-and-display meters are already set to arrive on the East Cliff, Westover Road and Hinton Road in the spring. And charges could be introduced on several
EVERY single resident in Swanage is being invited to have a say in shaping the future of the town. A 12-month project has been launched to consult with all sectors of the community on ideas for improving the quality of life in Swanage over the coming
ALL good things must come to end and for Wimborne Town, their very good thing, a 23-match unbeaten league run, came to an abrupt end at Newbury. The Berkshire side halted their nightmare slump of three successive defeats in the most impressive way by
SCOTT Joyce was the derby day hero as Christchurch chalked up yet another win and left Lymington and New Milton boss Ian Robinson exasperated at his side's recent fortunes. Joyce netted his ninth goal of the season to secure Priory's fourth straight victory
IN a recent survey, Aston Villa supporters came out as the most superstitious in the country. Apparently, 98 per cent of them carry a lucky charm. Well, although Steve Fletcher may claim to be a non-believer, he certainly enjoyed a change of fortune thanks
DORCHESTER 2 MARGATE 2 DORCHESTER had one hand on the £4,000 prize and one foot in the last 32 at the halfway stage in a compelling FA Trophy third round tie against Nationwide Conference Margate at the Avenue Stadium. But Matt Groves's first half double
LEWES 5 WEYMOUTH 8 WEYMOUTH moved into the last 32 of the FA Trophy after one of the most incredible matches in their 114-year history. Supporters at the Dripping Pan were shaking their heads in disbelief as both sides went goal crazy in a tie that had
A FERNDOWN resident is urging others to be on their guard over thieves ransacking their rubbish. Alex Warner now burns any waste containing her name, address or financial dealings, has cancelled one credit card and is taking out insurance against others
ASPIRING singers are being offered the chance to join the award-winning Bournemouth Symphony Chorus at an open rehearsal at the concert hall at Lighthouse in Poole later this month. Recognised as one of the foremost choirs in the country, the Chorus sings
VILLAGERS are preserving their links with European royalty for future generations to marvel at. Members of Frampton Parish Council are erecting a new plaque to commemorate a visit by Queen Sophie Wurttemberg of the Netherlands, who planted two oak trees
PLANS to demolish former Hordle House School on the clifftop near Milford-on-Sea will come under scrutiny this week. Several schemes to utilise the site have been submitted to New Forest District Council with varying degrees of success since the school
MURDER investigation is continuing today after a father- of-six died following a brawl near his home. Emergency services were called to Howe Close, New Milton, at about 11.15pm on Friday following reports that a man had been assaulted. Jeffery Rostigina
A MAN who attacked his estranged wife and rammed a police car during a 17-hour crime spree has been electronically tagged for four months. Blandford magistrates heard Christian Butt had been incorrectly taking prescription drugs and was confused at the
CHERRIES goal hero Steve Fletcher edged a step closer to an historic hall of fame double - but then said: "I'm not setting myself any targets". Fletcher bagged his 72nd league goal for Cherries to help Sean O'Driscoll's troops end a run of four consecutive
DRIVERS who believe they have been wrongly caught for speeding are being given a chance to complain. Dorset Safety Camera Partnership has said it is "strengthening" its procedures after a driver was fined while travelling at less than 14mph. As previously
A MURDER investigation is continuing today after a father- of-six died following a brawl near his home. Emergency services were called to Howe Close, New Milton, at about 11.15pm on Friday following reports that a man had been assaulted. Jeffery Rostigina
A STREETCLEANER was shot by an air rifle as he worked in Bournemouth in the early hours of the morning. Keith Jones, 60, from Parkstone, said the shot, which penetrated the flesh in his arm, would have hit his heart if his arm had been in a different
BUBBLY Clare Southern from Poole scooped the £97,000 prize when she won Channel 4's latest reality show Shattered. The teenager, a former pupil of Parkstone Grammar School, managed to stay awake the longest after a staggering total of 178 hours sleep
WORK on transforming Poole's Tower Park into a 21st century entertainment complex is to begin this year. The planned multi-million pound revamp is the first since the centre opened in 1989 and will see around £4 million spent on building three new family
BUBBLY Clare Southern from Poole scooped the £97,000 prize when she won Channel 4's latest reality show Shattered. The teenager, a former pupil of Parkstone Grammar School, managed to stay awake the longest after a staggering total of 178 hours sleep
FIVE goals, two from debutants, and two deep into injury time, all added up to a thrilling local derby, from which Brockenhurst emerged triumphant following a 3-2 success over Bournemouth Poppies at Grigg Lane. The game was three minutes into stoppage
OAKMEADIANS' rich vein of form continued with a 32-26 win over local rivals Wimborne at Leigh Park on Saturday. The mighty Oaks, who ended Swanage and Wareham's unbeaten run at Meyrick Park last weekend, are in fourth place in the Powergen South West
DORSET star Kingscliff, whose Gold Cup pretensions received a massive jolt when he was beaten by Artic Jack in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on Saturday, has come back with what trainer Robert Alner fears is a muscular problem. The 13-length defeat
PORTLAND UNITED 1 BEMERTON HH 3 PORTLAND United chairman Phil Laming insists manager Peter Conning is under no pressure despite the Blues' dramatic slide down the Sydenhams Wessex First Division table. Saturday's 3-1 defeat against Bemerton Heath Harlequins
STOURPAINE 2 DORCHESTER UNITED 5 UNITED repeated their high-scoring home win over the Dorset Premier League's bottom markers after racing into a three-goal lead inside 25 minutes. The visitors enterprising attacking was rewarded with their opening goal
BRIDPORT 3 KEYNSHAM TOWN 0 EVERYTHING finally came together for Bob Russell's Bridport as they clinically brushed aside Keynsham Town in the Screwfix Direct Premier Division at St Mary's Field. The Bees boss had felt that his side needed a change of fortune
SEETHING Steve Claridge claimed he was 'ashamed' of Weymouth's defending in their incredible 8-5 FA Trophy third round win at Lewes. The Terras player-boss insists changes are on the way after Luke Nightingale's treble at the Dripping Pan helped put in
DORCHESTER boss Mark Morris blamed "stupid mistakes" for depriving the Magpies of a place in the last 32 of the FA Trophy after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Nationwide Conference side Margate at the Avenue Stadium. Morris' side looked on course to
MATT Ford believes the one-year loan of Pirates assets David Ruud and Krzysztof Kasprzak can only help improve them as riders. The Wimborne Road chief also feels that when the duo both come back to Poole, as they almost certainly will, they will be able
A POPULAR tourist attraction has been saved from closure in a £100,000 rescue package. The Heavy Horse Centre at Verwood faced permanent closure until Elaine and Richard Street's family business, Country Lane Ltd, stepped in. The previous owners, Susan
DIVERS are incensed over a decision to close off a historic wreck. Harbour authority Portland Port has withdrawn access to HMS Hood, a battleship sunk in the southern entrance of Portland harbour in the First World War. The surprise move has been greeted
TOWN COUNCIL HAS A LOT TO ANSWER FOR I HAVE followed with great interest the many comments made in connection with the council tax charge and while I agree that Dorset does seem to get a raw deal in terms of the money received from central government,
A PLEA by young people to build a skatepark could well become a reality. Weymouth and Portland Mayor Doug Hollings hopes the community will throw its weight behind a campaign to provide a skate facility for the young people of Wyke Regis. The first citizen
A DORCHESTER rail enthusiast has called for action to stop a train travel club running out of steam. It looks like the end of the line for Bournemouth Rail Travel, which is due to fold at the end of this month after South West Trains terminated the contract
MY WORD, I really do hope that traffic wardens are paid a great deal of money. After all, the weight of expectation on their shoulders appears to be growing on a daily basis. Not only do these denizens of law and order uphold the best traditions of fair-mindedness
STUDENT Emma Darby was in a lecture learning about delivery and naming newborn babies when she went into labour herself. But the part-time marketing student from Bournemouth and Poole College didn't realise at first that her cramps were in fact contractions
