A YOUTH leader who admitted indecently touching a teenage boy has received permission from a judge to continue working with young people, prompting outrage from a leading children's charity. Michael Gage, 43, of Strouden Avenue, Bournemouth, who is now
A MAN left for dead by a callous hit-and-run driver has spoken of his relief that the offender is behind bars. John Pritchett was knocked unconscious, his jaw was broken on both sides, his cheekbone shattered and a tooth knocked out when drink-driver
NEWS that Bournemouth's so-called most 'unpopular' building has been nominated for demolition live on television will have delighted the vast majority of residents. But it's also prompted its supporters to start a campaign demanding Bournemouth keep the
THIS IS the Hotel Amarillo- and thanks to Peter Kay's smash hit Comic Relief video, EVERYONE wants to know the way to it! "We've been here four-and-a-half years and we've often had customers singing the song to us," says owner of the Bournemouth Hotel
A BUS driver who was punched in the face as he sat behind the wheel says he is lucky not to have been blinded. The late-night assault was caught on CCTV footage by Yellow Buses and printed in the Daily Echo on March 18. Dlir Albarzenji says he was lucky
THE boys in blue have been put in the pre-election front line in Dorset with Conservatives promising another 400 police for the county. Shadow home secretary David Davis, visiting Dorset on March 19, said a Conservative government would boost the force
NEWS that Bournemouth's so-called most 'unpopular' building has been nominated for demolition live on television will have delighted the vast majority of residents. But it's also prompted its supporters to start a campaign demanding Bournemouth keep the
THIS IS the Hotel Amarillo- and thanks to Peter Kay's smash hit Comic Relief video, EVERYONE wants to know the way to it! "We've been here four-and-a-half years and we've often had customers singing the song to us," says owner of the Bournemouth Hotel
TRIBUTES have been paid to Purbeck's longest serving councillor, Angus McDonald, who has died. Cllr Angus McDonald completed 49 years' unbroken service with Purbeck council, helping to secure the provision of affordable housing for local families. His
PIRATES supremo Matt Ford is looking for his charges to "take victory tomorrow afternoon by any score" when Poole finally make their first home appearance of 2005 against Swindon (March 20, 3pm). Following Wednesday's rain-off at Wimborne Road, the first
BOY band star turned DJ, manager and business entrepreneur Simon Webbe will be showing off his DJ-ing skills at an Under 18s night at Elements in Bournemouth next month. Webbe, best known as a member of the now defunct pop group Blue, will be special
CAMPAIGNERS were today still fighting to save an African family from deportation. Verah Kachepa and her four children were due to be sent back to Malawi earlier this week following their arrest during a morning raid on their Weymouth home. But difficulties
A DISABLED woman who had her lifeline wheelchair stolen by thieves is appealing for its safe return. Carla Smith, 24, is housebound after the £3,000 custom-made Quickie sports chair was taken from a Vauxhall Astra parked outside her Highgrove Road home
A SURVEY is to be carried out into how many people hire hackney carriage taxis in Weymouth and Port-land - to prove there is no demand for any more cabs. The borough's council has been legally advised to carry out the study after restricting the number
CHILDREN took their history lessons to another level when they spent a day as Vikings. Children from class 3/4 at the Bere Regis first school in Rye Hill, Bere Regis have been studying the Vikings for six weeks. They have been learning about their customs
SWIMMERS could be making waves in a new modern pool in the Weymouth complex if a final bid is approved. Private firm SLM Ltd is poised to be awarded a 10-year-contract that will pump £799,000 of investment into the ailing Knightsdale Road centre. Borough
IT'S ONE of the gayest places in Britain, according to a new survey. A gay league table of towns across the country has put Bournemouth in the top five, beating big cities such as Newcastle and Birmingham. Research by a lecturer at the University of Brighton
EIGHTEEN months ago, telecoms regulator Oftel told BT it was time to open up the directory enquiries market and 192 was no more. Ten new services, all starting with the prefix 118 would be introduced, with further services being able to join in whenever
A "HAPPY future" is on the cards for a mother orang-utan and her new son following a tricky start to the life of Monkey World's latest addition. The baby, who has yet to be named, had to be helped to feed at the ape rescue centre, near Wool, after staff
POLICE in Bournemouth are appealing for help from the public to identify a thug who carried out an unprovoked assault on a 52-year-old man. The attack happened as the victim was walking past GC Produce warehouse in Seabourne Road, Boscombe, at 11pm on
POOLE traders are fuming over news that it may take up to six weeks to fix broken traffic lights, causing huge congestion on a major route into the town. The lights at Ashley Cross went out after a collision between a red Land Rover Discovery and a white
The development of the derelict Hardy block on Portland is set to finally get under way. Council chiefs claim they have secured an undertaking for work to begin on the controversial site. They revealed that Luke Comer, head of site owners Comer Homes,
FOR the second time within the past two months the Early Learning Centre in Weymouth has come to the aid of Easton Pre-school. At the begining of February outdoor play equipment was stolen from the school and what the thieves couldn't carry away they
NURSERY children got on their trikes to raise money for new equipment for their school. Toddlers at Allsorts Nursery in St Augustine's School, Weymouth, took part in a sponsored trike ride to raise money for outdoor learning equipment. The £500 raised
VOLUNTARY groups in Dorset are celebrating with the announcement of lottery funding awards. More than a dozen groups in the area will benefit from the handouts which have been distributed under the Awards for All scheme. The Chiswell Community Trust on
THE Daily Echo has swooped for a beat-the-deadline signing! Cherries star Warren Cummings has ended several weeks of intense negotiations and put pen to paper on a deal to become the Echo's new columnist. The Scottish international, recovering from the
EVERYONE who deserved it copped for a bucketload from the brilliant Jamie's School Dinners, easily the best thing on TV all year, which concluded on Wednesday. Everyone, that is, apart from the vast majority of those responsible for producing the pasty
