A CHURCH minister who has helped to save up to 2,000 lives a week in Africa by employing some basic technology is packing his bags for Zimbabwe for a return trip. Alan Clarredge, who is the minister for Throop United Reformed Church, is going out to Bulawayo
FOUR young boys who suffer from a rare life-threatening illness will be guests of honour at AFC Bournemouth's ground On Saturday (April 17). Their father David Hartley will address about 7,000 supporters from the pitch at 2.45pm, urging males between
FOUR young boys who suffer from a rare life-threatening illness will be guests of honour at the Cherries' match on Saturday (April 17). Their father David Hartley will address about 7,000 supporters from the pitch at 2.45pm, urging males between 18 and
A TORY politician who lost his brother in the Bali bombing now believes it was wrong to go to war in Iraq. Tobias Ellwood, who aims to become MP for Bournemouth East, also said "soft targets" such as Bournemouth could be at risk from terrorists. He spoke
THE Daily Echo Film Club in conjunction with UCI offers Echo readers the chance to enjoy top movies at a cut price every week at UCI. Membership is free to every Echo reader who applies and includes: Two tickets for the price of one on a selected film
DEDICATED student Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) has a bright future ahead of him. Destined for an Ivy League college, he has worked hard at school, sacrificing a social life to knuckle down and study, much to the delight of his proud parents (Timothy
HIDALGO is the extraordinary story of one man's journey of personal redemption, reportedly based on the life of long distance horse rider Frank T Hopkins. The film opens in 1890. Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) works as a dispatch rider for the US Cavalry,
THE Bank Holiday schedule is usually a graveyard of repeats, films everybody saw four years ago or DIY makeover shows. Thankfully this week, there were a couple of gems hidden in among the dirge. Hawking (Tuesday, 9pm, BBC2), was the dramatisation of
IT'S sad that one of Britain's best-loved broadcasters should end his career in radio by being "ruthlessly shafted" by the BBC. But that's what happened in the name of ageism, claims Sir Jim in this breezy, readable autobiography. Over the years, the
IF you've got it, you're laughing, but if you haven't, you borrow it - that's the financial reality for most people in Britain today. Credit cards are more popular than ever, according to market analyst Datamonitor, and the debt that goes along with them
A TOTAL of £45 million is to be spent on building hundreds of much-needed affordable homes in Poole over the next two years. The multi-million pound boost means investment in affordable housing in the town will more than quadruple. The windfall was announced
A ONE-MAN crime wave has been warned by a judge that he's in the last chance saloon. Andrew Benn, formerly of Wimborne Road in Poole, was due to be sentenced for commercial burglary and attempted robbery to which he'd pleaded guilty, and had asked for
HUNDREDS of years after being taken to a distant world by a benevolent entity, Mankind's descendants are kept in virtual slavery by the Lords of Night. After losing a customer in suspicious circumstances, and to an unknown poison, alchemist Alivet must
JUST over 900 years ago, Pope Urban II insisted God wanted European knights to wage war on Islam and recapture Jerusalem. This call for Holy War sent thousands to their deaths and forged a lasting animosity between two religions. Asbridge is a bit of
POOLE-born Mr Hyland presents an anthology of mainly free verse. This forces the reader to work hard to extract satisfaction from the avalanche of words and acres of enjambement. It is a relief to the internal ear to find occasional rhymes and formal
MARK Thompson has been given the all-clear to line-up against his former club Boston Barracuda Braves in the Conference League at the Wessex Stadium tonight (7.30pm). The Haven Wildcats heat leader has been out of action for a fortnight after suffering
THE planned 20mph speed limit outside Bridport Primary School in St Andrews Road should be extended to cover a much wider area, says a local pressure group. Members of the St Andrews Road and District Residents Association say they welcome the proposed
THE BLUEPRINT for a multi-million pound light railway network linking communities across West Dorset's Jurassic Coast is unveiled this week. The ambitious project is the brainchild of the Brit Valley Railway team, which has dramatically extended its original
A MAN who went on the run during his trial has been convicted of assaulting a disabled mother. Gary Paul Kennedy, 30, was found guilty of false imprisonment, criminal damage and common assault. A jury at Dorchester Crown Court took less than an hour to
A PIONEERING project to help prisoners stay on the straight and narrow after release is being launched in Dorchester. The Footprints Project aims to provide trained mentors to work with prisoners nearing the end of their sentence and work with them when
AN INLINE skating group has used a government grant to buy new equipment. The Wheels for All group was given more than £2000 for skates, pads and helmets in all sizes for the club's 100 members. The group runs a Second Saturday Skating day on the second
THREE'S a crowd - and that's how proud triplets mum Geraldine Walters prefers it. She paid tribute to her sons Paul, Mark and Antony as she raised a glass during a celebratory meal at the Turk's Head hotel and restaurant in Chickerell on the occasion
A STORE manager who raised money working a till in his running kit is ready for his third London Marathon on April 18. Steve Thomas, 30, who works at Somerfield Store in Littlemoor, will join 15 other runners from stores across the South West to raise
BRITAIN'S seaside resorts are said to be on the up. Fears of international terrorism and increased overseas holiday costs are putting tourists off foreign destinations. But what is on offer closer to home? We sent first-time visitor David Jones to investigate
WEST Bay angler Andy Fisher couldn't believe his eyes when he reeled in his line to find a giant lobster on the end. He had been using a squid bait, hoping to catch some pollock, when he hooked the 7.5lb monster. Experts say it is almost unknown for a
DUCKING and diving was the order of the day in the downland village of Damerham near Fordingbridge. A record flock of 1,500 yellow plastic numbered ducks were released into the Allen River beside the village hall on Easter Saturday for the annual grand
THE painful reorganisation of North Dorset District Council was an expensive mistake and its architects are not around to carry the can, say its critics. North Dorset was highlighted in the national press as the third most efficient council in the country
DISGRACED Tory councillor Mike Oram has finally resigned his office one week after being convicted of two charges of downloading child porn from the internet. Mr Oram stepped down from North Dorset District Council's cabinet the day before he was due
A FAMILY from Leamington Spa who had never been fossil hunting until recently, has discovered a rare 190 million year old lobster in Charmouth. Ian Harban and his two daughters Amelie, 9, and Elise, 6, decided to try digging for fossils on a recent day
THE re-opening of InSPARation youth caf in Church Street, Lyme Regis has been delayed - but organisers say the setback is a cloud with a shiny silver lining. The caf's owner, Lyme Regis Development Trust, was working against the clock to get the caf open
DID you know that your skin accounts for approximately 16 per cent of your body weight? Or that Sweden was the first country to issue paper banknotes, in 1661? If you did, or if you're at least still interested, chances are you share my strange obsession
THE father of a teenage tearaway who was sent to a young offenders' institution for killing his 15-year-old friend has appealed to the public to leave his son alone. Roy Robinson pleaded for privacy after the Daily Echo discovered that 19-year-old Nicholas
EVEN donkeys sometimes need new shoes. Crumbling hooves had left Jericho the rescue donkey unable to walk - only a new set of plastic shoes have brought him back onto his feet. Jericho has been sheltered at the Margaret Green animal sanctuary, Church
WRITERS and filmmakers have always been interested in the notion of time travel. But as Marty McFly discovered again and again in Back To The Future, the fabric of time is incredibly fragile. Tear it at your peril. Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) is a deeply
A CHANGE of direction for Dogme co-founder, writer-director Thomas Vinterberg, who has assembled a top-notch international cast for this futuristic fantasy on the nature of love. Set in the near future where the landscape is bleak and people are dying
THERE'S a thin line between love and hate, and families tend to cross it more often than most, especially around the holiday season. Despite her complete lack of culinary skills, April Burns (Katie Holmes) volunteers to cook Thanksgiving dinner for her
CLEVER, neatly structured novel by a Bournemouth author, brought up by the New Forest that is told through two narrators. The first is an Irish-born architectural illustrator who is sucked away from his life's rut by into a sequence of unexpected events
THIS, the second of the latest Dune prequel trilogy, the Legends of Dune, is based millennia before the original Dune. Years after the war against the mach-ines started, the human population is tiring of fighting. Some individuals wish the war to continue
THE phrase "long-distance call" has a whole new meaning for Jill Doddemeade, after the disconnection of her nearest phone box means a 20-minute walk just to phone a friend. Jill, from Slepe Crescent in Parkstone, does not have a landline or a mobile and
THE friend of a terminally ill dad is running the London Marathon to say thank you to a national charity on his behalf. Samantha Sida is taking part in the 26-mile race on Sunday to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust, which gave leukaemia sufferer
A FAMILY has been given more heartache after vandals ripped up graveside flowers and ornaments. Relatives of Don Tucker were shocked to find flowers at Poole cemetery had been strewn around the ground and destroyed - and a graveside ornament depicting
TIM'S mum is determined his childhood will be different from her own repressed upbringing. She becomes a Bhagwan convert, wears orange, travels and tries to free her mind. Tim comes with her to communes where nothing is taboo. Parenting is mutual so Tim
A FEISTY American girl and a monk strike up a friendship in this engaging thriller-cum-adventure yarn. But it's their relationship with a "yeh-teh" which provides the real interest. Young Paris tags along when her uncle takes his "ultimate dining club
PETER Morgan is released from prison after four years and tries to find work. At the same time Carl Waters, a convicted murderer is also freed. Morgan is forced to organise a kidnapping, using Waters and two ex-prison friends. The targets are children
As the Powergen English Clubs Rugby Championship draws to a close this weekend Dorchester end their campaign with a visit to Trowbridge. The county town will select from a squad of 17 for the Southern Counties South clash with centre Steve Gerety returning
LEON Green gave the Terras the lead at Eastleigh last night - but they were undone by two goals in an eight-minute spell just before half-time. Green lost his marker and skipped around two more defenders before knocking the ball past the home keeper after
FORMER AFC Bournemouth keeper Jimmy Glass, who had a short spell with Weymouth last month, will stand between Dorchester Reserves and a place in the Dorset Premier League Cup Final tomorrow (KO 2.30). Glass, who returned to play for Bournemouth Sports
TWO teams in contrasting form meet at Ironmould Lane tomorrow when Bridport visit Brislington in the Screwfix Direct Premier Division (3pm). Pre-season joint title favourites Bris were still in contention for the championship midway through the campaign
PORTLAND United wrap up their home fixtures when they entertain Fareham Town in the Sydenhams Wessex League tomorrow (3pm). And boss Andy Mason is desperate for his side to finish on a high in front of their own fans. He said: "It's been a difficult season
DORCHESTER'S gutsy bid for automatic qualification for next season's new Conference league faces a huge test tomorrow. On a day when more than half the Dr Martens Premier Division fixtures feature games between clubs still fighting to secure a top 13
SKIPPER Paul Buckle admits it would be a 'disaster' if Weymouth do not finish runners-up in the Dr Martens Premier Division. The captain has spoken of his disappointment at failing to lead the Terras to championship glory in his first year at the Wessex
ANGRY pensioners are calling on the county council for a change of heart over its decision to close a popular day centre in Bridport. The authority is kicking out elderly people who use the day centre at Sidney Gale House because it wants to free up space
TRIBUTES were paid this week to former West Dorset planning chief Derek Boyt who has died, aged 56. Mr Boyt, who spent 29 years working with the district council, was the man co-ordinating Bridport's bid for a £180,000 sea angling jetty as part of the
BRIDPORT town councillors reinforced their support for the town's youth groups with two cash donations this week. Members of the finance and general purposes committee agreed grants of £750 towards the Summerthing Children's Arts Festival and £500 for
RISING house prices are expected to suffer a "correction" in 2005, predict analysts Lombard Street Research. Bank of England officials must raise interest rates next month if the impact of that price correction is to be minimised, says LSR. "Is the Bank
GUINEA pigs are now being sought for another survival challenge in Dorset. Following the highly successful event held on Green Island last year, a health charity is holding I'm NOT a Celebrity And I HAVE to Stay There! in Moors Valley Country Park in
SPECTACULAR entertainment on ice in the form of Celebration - Holiday on Ice's 60th anniversary show - is being staged at the Canford Park Arena near Wimborne until Sunday. The production, which opened on Thursday, is created and choreographed by former
SEVENTIES pop idol David Cassidy returns to Bournemouth next month with a concert that will bring memories flooding back for the fans who adored him. (Apr 29) For a few magical years David's face was on the front every teen magazine, his posters adorned
THIS TAXES OVERLOAD MUST BE STOPPED DEREK Julian's letter of April 3 asked where the prospective Conservative MP stands on council tax. The answer is that I agree that something must be done - not just for those on fixed incomes, but everyone who has
A MODERN housing development has been given the green light despite strong objections. Frampton residents hit out at proposals to build 11 houses and four flats in a conservation area in their village, branding the design an eyesore on the rural landscape
A TAXI firm boss says that 50 jobs could be at risk after councillors rejected his proposal for a new business home. Weytax has been a familiar face on the Weymouth taxi scene for 35 years, but the termination of its Trinity Road-North Quay base lease
A FORMER Westham school pupil has launched a search to find a friend from the past. Maidie Langford turns 60 this year and to celebrate she'd like to get in touch with her old best mate. The only trouble is she can't remember her friend's surname. As
A NEW link will soon be made in a long-distance bridleway between Poole and the edge of the New Forest. The Castleman Trailway mostly follows the route of the old Castleman Corkscrew railway track. The twisting line was named after the Wimborne solicitor
TALL and slim, interior design student Suzanna Perry looks nothing like a burly fireman but as the newest recruit at her village fire station in the New Forest she can rightly claim to be a Burley firefighter. Suzanna, 23, who has lived in the village
THE OWNER of a fossil shop in Lyme Regis is appealing for the safe return of a large ammonite which was taken from his doorstep over the Easter holiday. Brandon Lennon of Lennon's in Drakes Way was looking after the 190 million year old 'arietite' fossil
WORK began this week on a skate board park for Lyme Regis - and skateboarders themselves will be putting in the elbow grease to get the park up and running within a fortnight. Contractors Double R Ramp Construction, who built Bridport's indoor skate park
BIG Steve Fletcher is in danger of missing his first game for more than 18 months as Cherries look to get their play-off push back on track. Fletcher's proud record of appearing in 94 consecutive league and cup matches has been put on the line due to
