A GRANDMOTHER described how she was allegedly subjected to a horrific sex attack in her own home after being followed off a bus by her attacker. The 63-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was allegedly punched in the face, robbed and repeatedly
A HIGH-TECH rowing boat built in Christchurch for an epic 11,300-mile circumnavigation of Antarctica has been wrecked less than two days after the start of the journey. Colin Yeates, 47, from Chandler's Ford, who aimed to be the first person to make an
A DORSET stroke patient has been accepted for a trial which could give her a "bionic" arm. Jane Brine lost the use of her left side and spent eight weeks in hospital - with her future a blank. But hard work and determination had her walking, talking and
BOURNEMOUTH beach proved the perfect resting place for this cute little seal pup, who was snapped snoozing on the sand. Daily Echo readers Kathy and Bryn Elias came across the creature as they strolled along the beach at West Cliff at 8.10am on Tuesday
LOCAL advice agencies are bracing themselves for a busy start to the new year as Christmas credit card bills hit home. January is traditionally one of the busiest months for Citizens Advice Bureaux, with a flood of calls from people struggling to pay
THEIR eyes met across a crowded room; it was love at first sight. But family issues compelled them to keep their relationship secret. Fourteen years on and the couple are to "tie the knot" in a public declaration of their undying love. It sounds like
BROADSTONE'S Nigel Tokely is leaving the Wentworth Drive club to become head professional at Dorset's new exclusive Remedy Oak course at Woodlands, near Horton. The 45-year-old former European Tour player has been at Broadstone for more than 22 years
KEVIN Spurgeon set off to the Middle East this week with a new putter he hopes will help him become the rookie of the year on the European Seniors Tour. Named the Freddy Frog, it was specially constructed by Dudsbury member Paul Henley who is a clubmaker
LEE James' hopes of regaining his European Tour card effectively disappeared with a double-bogey seven during his final round of the Challenge Tour Grand Final. The Dorset Golf and Country Club touring professional needed a top two finish to automatically
WEYMOUTH have won the race to sign former Republic of Ireland under-21 international John McGrath. Terras beat off competition from Conference National outfits Scarborough, Forest Green Rovers and Exeter City to land the 25-year-old winger. Delighted
A SMALL Dorset family firm is poised to help relieve water shortages in India. Wessex Chemical Factors supplies a unique cleaning agent used in water recycling equipment. Its product allows membrane bioreactors used to recycle water to function longer
IT WILL be out with the old and in with the new at Charminster Pre-school as it heads for a memorable birthday year complete with a long-awaited new building. Supporters are heading for a final fundraising push in 2006 to find the last £25,000 before
KENNELS across the county are full following the New Year holiday. The Stray Dogs Sanctuary, which houses strays in kennels around Dorset, says there has been a steady influx of animals since December. And the charity is now preparing to be bombarded
TWO schoolgirls have won a battle to keep a vital bus going between their town and Poole. When Hayley Butler's mum came home with the bad news that the X8 was about to be axed, the Blandford School student joined forces with her friend Molly Abram from
TEENAGERS in Christchurch should have their super new town centre youth club and outreach centre open for business within weeks. The £400,000 refurbishment of the Grade II listed Stour Cottage on the edge of Barrack Road recreation ground has been completed
RESIDENTS and councillors in Swanage are calling for improvements to bus services to the area. Many of the vehicles used for the 142 and 143 Wilts & Dorset services to the town have not been changed for years. In the minutes of a recent Swanage Town
SHAUN Webster booked his place among Europe's elite golfers and vowed: "I won't mess it up again this time." The touring professional from Dorset Golf and Country Club cruised through the gruelling Tour School in San Roque, Cadiz to claim the sixth of
A WARM day with sunshine increased numbers for Parkstone Yacht Club's Boxing Day races, from which Poole Yacht Club members took home most of the spoils. Enough entries allowed classes for One and Two IRC, Class 3 PHHS and R19 one designs. Courses varied
WEYMOUTH have won the race to sign former Republic of Ireland under-21 international John McGrath. Terras beat off competition from Conference National outfits Scarborough, Forest Green Rovers and Exeter City to land the 25-year-old winger. Delighted
MORE than a dozen would-be developers have thrown their hat into the ring to revamp Dorchester's Charles Street. A total of 15 developers have shown an interest in developing the site, which is currently used as a car park. And officers at West Dorset
A GROUP of neighbours has blocked plans to build over an ancient burial ground and underground tunnel. The plan for a detached house in Fordington Green was labelled 'undesirable' by local residents who said the development would damage the character
LOCAL government reorganisation would be a disaster for communities, a senior councillor warned today. Coun Andy Hutchings, who has served on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council for 23 years, said Government plans which would effectively rid the town
SHOPPERS can expect to keep tripping up on uneven paving in New Milton for at least a year because county council funding has run dry. The first half of improvements in the northern half of the high street, Station Road, is nearing completion. But town
DORCHESTER'S injury-hit trio of Carl Poore, Warren Byerley and Nick Jones are hoping to be back in action by the end of the month. All three have been on the sidelines for periods ranging from 12 to four weeks with knee problems, but club physio Geoff
TREVOR Challis is expected to be fit for Weymouth's crunch Conference South clash at second-place Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday. The full-back suffered a knee injury in the Terras defeat at Dorchester Town on Monday and was replaced at half-time
A COLLEAGUE of a "brave" firefighter has paid tribute to the man who recruited him - and his two sons - to the fire service. Former station officer at Wimborne Richard Farrance, known as Dick, died on Christmas Eve aged 75. Workmate and friend Brian Tucker
INTERNATIONALLY famous theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh is searching for child actors to play the role of Tam in his new production of Miss Saigon.. From his first appearance Tam - child of Miss Saigon's Vietnamese heroine Kim is a central character
PORTLAND'S fair is under threat after Dorset Police warned island councillors they may charge to attend the event. Now the Portland Town Council is to hold an emergency meeting to prevent the historic event folding. Coun David Thurston last night told
LIKE most Bridport residents, Richard and Hazel Vasey had heard of the famous town chemist Dr Roberts. So they were amazed when they saw an original Beach and Barnicott Dr Roberts medicine pot displayed in a bric-a-brac shop - in Cape Town, South Africa
