A GRANDMOTHER, killed when a tree bough fell on her during a tornado was the victim of an "act of God", an inquest heard. Pamela Hudson, 57, was hit by the huge bough at Corfe Castle after a day enjoying a Thomas the Tank Engine event on Swanage Railway
CHRISTMAS songs are playing softly in the background, crackers are on the table and everyone is tucking into the turkey. But this is no ordinary Christmas party scene - the turkey is inside a curry and the sprouts are ingredients inside Indian bajees.
A FURIOUS victim of child molester Rupert Massey has spoken of his disgust that his abuser has been awarded nearly £6,000 by a court. Dave Meek has waived his right to anonymity to speak of his shock and anger following the award by the European Court
A MAJOR car dealership which returned a serviced car with a string of serious faults has been fined £6,000. Peugeot dealer George Hartwell Ltd was caught flouting trading standards laws in an undercover sting operation by council officers. It emerged
A FORMER National Trust property manager has won libel damages from the BBC following false claims made during a TV documentary about the National Trust at Studland. Julian Homer, who now works in Tasmania, won undisclosed damages from the BBC over TV
A GRANDMOTHER, killed when a tree bough fell on her during a tornado was the victim of an "act of God", an inquest heard. Pamela Hudson, 57, was hit by the huge bough at Corfe Castle after a day enjoying a Thomas the Tank Engine event on Swanage Railway
EAST Dorset twosome Martyn Sekjer and Adam Tidby are on course to retain their England places for this season's British Isles International Series. They have been chosen for the senior international trial at Northampton on Sunday, December 19. Tidby will
DORCHESTER boss Mark Morris is likely to change his defensive line-up as his side look to stem the flow of goals against them at Newport County tonight. But the Magpies boss says whatever system he employs when his men take to the road for the fourth
JUST one day remains in the countdown to the Echo-backed Dorset Business Awards. Winners will be announced tomorrow night at the 10th annual gala awards dinner at the Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth. Finalists in the four awards are (in alphabetical order
WEYMOUTH and Portland mayor Lynne Herbert takes a peek at the attractions offered to holidaymakers in a new council magazine. She oversaw the arrival of bundles of Weymouth and Portland 2005 holiday guides at the resort's tourist information centre as
DORSET'S Jurassic heritage has been recreated at a Dorchester school. Youngsters at Damers First School in the county town got to grips with prehistoric Dorset during a special project earlier this year. Children were encouraged to explore the Jurassic
ASDA greeter Sandie West is proud to back this year's Echo toy appeal. She regularly urges shoppers at the Weymouth store to donate a Christmas gift for needy children over the store's public address system. Sandie, a Portland town councillor, is overwhelmed
ANIMAL welfare groups have praised forest chiefs for rounding up rampant stallions to help improve the native pony stock in the New Forest. The indiscriminate nature of the stallions' unbridled passion had saddled the New Forest's ponies with serious
THE forecast for council tax-payers looks bleak in Dorset with the county council bottom of the government funding league and considering ways of tightening its belt. Council chiefs say Dorset has yet again been given a raw deal with government funding
CHERRIES are sweating on the fitness of Eddie Howe and Brian Stock after the duo both picked up ankle injuries on Tuesday night (Dec 7). Howe was stretchered off in first-half stoppage time after landing awkwardly following an aerial challenge with Bradford's
CLEVER clogs of the week award must surely go to 13-year-old Gayathri Kumar, champion of the BBC's Hard Spell competition. Here is one person who richly deserved her brief period of televised glory. You might have found yourself tuning in recently to
CHRISTMAS will be tinged with sadness for a Bournemouth war hero as he plans a nostalgic trip back in time to remember his lost comrades. Leslie Wright earned the title "King of Lampedusa" after his air-sea rescue plane got lost on a mission from Malta
THOMPSON FLY has today announced seven new routes from Bournemouth International Airport. The flights, which start at £17.99, will fly to Amsterdam, Pisa, Paris, Valencia, Palma, Faro, Malaga For more information log on to the Thompson website: at Thomsonfly.com
A GRANDMOTHER, killed when a tree bough fell on her during a tornado was the victim of an "act of God", an inquest heard. Pamela Hudson, 57, was hit by the huge bough at Corfe Castle after a day enjoying a Thomas the Tank Engine event on Swanage Railway
ANGRY workers from Yellow Buses demonstrated against plans to sell off the company on Tuesday night - but to no avail. After nearly two hours of fierce debate Bournemouth councillors finally agreed at midnight to approve the first steps towards selling
THIRTY-SIX workers have been made redundant by a Poole company as it moves part of its business to eastern Europe. Since the start of the year the workforce at Testlink in Upton has been halved - with the latest batch of job cuts coming as the company
SWANAGE and Wareham centre David Elford dropped his second crucial drop goal in a week to seal a thrilling 12-12 draw with South West Two East leaders Reading Abbey. After his game-clinching effort in Swans' Dorset and Wilts cup victory over Chippenham
EARLY first-half goals from Karl Broadhurst and Alan Connell paved the way for Cherries to end their December jinx. (Dec 7) Sean O'Driscoll's side had failed to claim a league victory in the month since Jermain Defoe scored twice in a 2-1 win at Oxford
NEW Terras signing Danny Byrne is being tipped for the top following his stunning 83rd-minute strike at the Wessex Stadium last night. The ex-Manchester United youngster scored one of the best goals seen at Radipole Lane in recent years to put his side
BRAVE coastguards, a life-saving surgeon, a good neighbour and a youngster who raised thousands for Cancer Research are among those crowned "Local Heroes" by the Daily Echo. After sifting through the entries to our local hero competition we've selected
A COUPLE who took over a restaurant a fortnight ago have been driven out by a campaign of vandalism. Michael and Sue Wiseman took out a five-year lease on Gusto in High East Street, Dorchester, just two weeks ago. Now they say are being forced to quit
MAJOR improvements are called for in the running of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. The Audit Commission's draft annual audit and inspection letter outlined the 'need to improve in many respects' but also hailed staff as 'enthusiastic and committed
A GRANDMOTHER killed when a tree bough fell on her during a tornado was the victim of an 'act of God', a coroner said. Pamela Hudson, 57, was hit by the huge bough at Corfe Castle after a day enjoying a Thomas the Tank Engine event at Swanage Railway
COMMUNITY workers from a Weymouth estate will have a chance to bend the ear of the Government's policy makers when they attend a conference in London today. Members of the Westham Community Group received a personal invitation to attend the important
A multi-million programme will see a major overhaul of street lights across Dorset. More than 90 per cent of the county's street lights will be replaced after the Government gave the go-ahead for the refurbishment plans. Research indicates that more than
CLERGYMEN took to the aisles for the launch of a new chaplaincy service at Asda in Weymouth. They lined up at the Newstead Road supermarket on the first day of the new initiative. The Elim New Life Church was the first on duty but clergy from other churches
FURIOUS internet surfer Tony Bone has vowed to hunt down the computer hijackers who secretly hacked into his computer and ran up huge telephone bills. Last week British Telecom told the shocked 58-year-old, who is registered disabled, he had racked up
HARRY Redknapp has refused to rule out taking over as manager at Southampton in the wake of more speculation linking him to the post. A report in yesterday's Daily Express revealed that the former Portsmouth boss, who resigned in controversial circumstances
HARRY Redknapp has been confirmed as the new manager of Southampton. The former Portsmouth and Cherries boss replaces Steve Wigley, who has been relieved of first-team duties after just one win in 14 league games in charge. Wigley turned down an offer
HARRY Redknapp will be named as the new boss at Southampton today. The former Bournemouth and Portsmouth boss will replace Steve Wigley, who has been relieved of first-team duties after the Premiership side managed just one win in 14 league games.
