DORCHESTER is to stage one of the biggest art sales this country has seen outside London after the discovery of two Renaissance paintings. Town auctioneer Guy Schwinge says the two paintings - by one of the greatest Renaissance artists, Fra Angelico
CHILDREN from Holy Trinity Junior School have raised £710 for an African orphanage. They were inspired to raise sponsorship after a talk by one of their volunteer helpers about her trip to South Africa. Gill Ketchley, whose grandchildren went to Holy
TOWN councillors are being asked to support the staging of Dorchester's fifth community play. Preparations are well under way for the play, which will run in the Thomas Hardye School Hall in November next year. The Dorchester Community Plays Association
MORE than 600 householders are to be asked for their opinions on controversial proposals for a new cycle lane in Weymouth. The proposed 1.5-metre wide cycle lanes on Dorchester Road would run between the Manor Round-about and Wey Valley School. This
STAFF and pupils at a school in Weymouth have been given top marks by inspectors. Ofsted has rated Bincombe Valley Primary School as excellent for the personal development and well being if its pupils. The news has been welcomed by head teacher Les
A GROUP that helps people get the most out of retirement is raising its profile in Dorchester with events in the town this month. Heyday is starting regular coffee morning meetings and has lined up a visit to one of Dorchester's top tourism destinations
HARBOUR traders have backed plans for the Weymouth Pavilion development. The traders unanimously called for the scheme to be given the green light at a recent meeting. Last week 1,000 protesters marched in Weymouth against the scheme - estimated to
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man stole a charity collection box from a Dorchester shop. The incident happened in Ottakar's in South Street at around 1.30pm last Thursday. The male distracted the shop assistant and then took the poppy collection
HUNT monitor Kevin Hill, who was attacked while doing his job, has been honoured at the House of Lords. Mr Hill, 56, from Drimpton, near Beaminster, received an award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in recognition of his filming
WEST Dorset residents are being invited to the first annual assembly of the West Dorset Part-nership to see the launch of a new community plan. The assembly, on November 25, will mark the launch of the new West Dorset Community Plan 2006 to 2010, which
A JEWELLERY shop manager has passed a retail jewellery diploma with a distinction. Amy Frampton, 25, who runs Hardy's Jewellers in Cornhill, Dorchester, has been training for two years to pass the qualification with an A grade. Mrs Frampton, who started
knock-knock
LUCKY winners of a competition celebrated getting a new front door. Five competition winners, who had successfully told a knock-knock joke on Wessex FM and won a door from Fordingtons, were celebrating at the Conservatory Village. Fordingtons Conservatory
Firms urged to aim for gold' TOURISM businesses in Dorset are being urged to sign up to a new scheme called Jurassic Gold. The initiative is aimed at improving the experience of visitors to the world heritage coast. Bruce Voss, who is South West RDA
STAFF in a Dorchester nightclub club are toasting its switch to plastic glasses. The Firestation in Trinity Street has changed its whole stock of glasses to plastic. And manager Kirsty Smith says the switch is a complete success. She said: "We've changed
ACTOR Martin Clunes will be guest of honour at this year's Dorchester Cracker Night. Mr Clunes, who lives near Bridport, will be on hand on December 6 to switch on the town's Christmas lights. Delighted Cracker Night organiser Keith Grainger said he
A FOUR-year-old girl battling leukaemia is hoping to be home for Christmas - despite falling so ill doctors feared she might die. Katie Ings, of Bayard Road, Littlemoor, Weymouth, was rushed to Southampton Hospital 10 days ago when her blood platelets
DORSET Police has held Weymouth's first-ever gay forum. It was organised by Lesbian and Gay Liaison officers to take on board ideas and views from the community. The aim was to improve the relationship between the police and members of the lesbian,
MAYOR Howard Legg visited pupils at a Weymouth special school to launch its hi-tech community project. Children at Westfield Technology College have joined up with St Andrew's Primary School pupils on a project to find out about the town's Pavilion.
DRIVERS are using a bridleway between Coombe Valley and Bincombe as a shortcut to avoid Weymouth traffic in rush hour. They are then ignoring the no-entry route connecting Bincombe to Old Station Road, which joins Dorchester Road. PC Paul Holman said
Toy shop aims to do even better STAFF at Howley's Toymaster in Weymouth aim to fill their storeroom once again for the Dorset Echo Toy Appeal. The shop in Frederick Place has backed the appeal for the past six years and is proud to do so once again.
DORSET manager Sean Walbridge has stressed he won't be putting any pressure on Dan Belt or Ben Lawes to leave Weymouth and move up to Southern League cricket next year. The Seasiders, for whom bowler Belt and batsman Lawes starred in the Dorset League
WEYMOUTH midfielder Simon Weatherstone was delighted with his goal in Sunday's FA Cup first round clash against Bury but he has also revealed his disappointment that his side failed to get the job done. The Terras put on a superb home performance in
