ABSENTEEISM rates in Dorset primary schools are among the highest in the South West, government statistics show. The county's five to 11-year-olds skipped 5.41 per cent of school sessions over the autumn 2006 and spring 2007 terms. The 285,381 half-day
DORSET Wildlife Trust is marking the 20th anniversary of its Kingcombe Meadows nature reserve with an appeal to safeguard its future. Kingcombe Meadows is a working farm and a flagship reserve near Maiden Newton where the trust can put into practice
A STATE of the art new kitchen complex at Chickerell Camp has been officially opened by Dorset Lord Lieutenant Mrs Valerie Pitt-Rivers. More than £2 million has been spent on Camp refurbishment including the new kitchen complex capable of feeding up
POLICE are going back to school to try and tackle the problem of underage drinking. They are running a roadshow which will visit schools around Weymouth and West Dorset once students return to classes after half term. Aimed at Year 9 pupils who are
HIDDEN traces of Weymouth's medieval history have been uncovered at Chapelhay. Sections of 400-year-old stone steps have been revealed by volunteers clearing undergrowth in Chapelhay Gardens. The Chapelhay Community Partnership is removing vegetation
A POETRY competition for young people was a great success for the Friends of Weymouth Library group. The library group presented cheques to winners at the same time as donating a new DVD stand to the library. Chairman of the Friends of Weymouth Library
WEYMOUTH 1 (Roberts 40) HITCHIN TOWN 1 (Frater 6) A LATE equaliser by defender Justin Roberts saved Weymouth's blushes in a heart-stopping FA Cup fourth qualifying round clash at the Wessex Stadium on Saturday. The Terras looked destined to be heading
PEOPLE in Dorset live longer than the national average, according to information released by the Department of Health. The Health Profile of England 2007 shows men living here can expect to live almost three years longer than average - to 79 years -
YOUNG volunteers have been getting dirty as part of an initiative to spruce up the garden of a sheltered housing complex. The Dorset v volunteers picked up their tools to clear the overgrown garden of Acland Court in Dorchester and plant new plants in
POLICE are to investigate claims that technology is to blame for sending lorries the wrong way in Weymouth. Responding to concerns raised at community meetings about large vehicles getting stuck in narrow streets, officers are to check out ways to persuade
SEALS and otters have been getting into the Hallowe'en spirit early at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre. Staff at the centre have been using seasonal pumpkins as an attraction for visitors and a new play toy for the young seals. Aquarist Roland Hogben said
HIGHWAYS Agency bosses have come under fire for claiming a pedestrian crossing in a village would cost £114,000 to construct. West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin has blasted the agency for the 'astonishing' sum for the crossing on the A35 at Winterbourne Abbas
CROWDS were wowed by a fire-eating escapologist at Weymouth's Brewers Quay. Stuntman Kondini followed his fire-eating performance by laying down on broken glass and letting a child stand on his chest. The spectacle was part of the quay's build-up to
A SERIAL offender has been sentenced to a total of 42 months in prison for stealing jewellery from his ex-partner and previous thefts. Dean Andrew Dowman, 38, formerly of Poundbury Crescent, Dorchester, originally denied beating Susan Kent after forcing
AN OXYGEN saturation meter is the latest piece of equipment to be given to Royal Manor Health Care by Weymouth and Portland League of Hospital Friends. The league was represented by the chairman, David Smith, at Easton Health Centre where he presented
THE Prince of Wales returns to Dorset next month to show MPs and urban developers around his model Poundbury development. Members of the Urban Land Institute and interested MPs will join Prince Charles for the tour of the urban extension to Dorchester
VOLUNTEERS are trying to turn the tide of damage being done to coral reefs by scallop dredgers off the Dorset coast. Dorset and Devon Wildlife Trusts organised a survey of dead pink sea fan corals on Chesil Beach to highlight the problem. The trusts
THIS year's Portland Fair continues its two-day run today off Victoria Square. The event was opened yesterday by Portland town mayor Tim Munro who said it was the first time the fair had been moved in living memory. He added: "In the past it has been
FIREWORKS and festivities will be the theme of a charitable flower arranging demonstration. Florist Mark Read and former missionary Brenda Woodsford have teamed up to help raise money for underprivileged Polish children. Mr Read will teach people the
FORMER Weymouth Wildcats' racer Chris Johnson has been moved to Oxford for specialist treatment on his broken pelvis, which doctors claim is worse than first thought. The 20-year-old was rushed to King's Lynn Hospital after tumbling in heat 14 of the
WESSEX Team-Bath outlined their status as favourites for this season's National League Division One title with a fine 3-1 win at Carter College over reigning champions London Malory. Wessex started the match brightly with the middle attack pairing of
WEYMOUTH player-coach Marcus Browning "would love to" fill the boots of the suspended Paolo Vernazza this afternoon when Hitchin Town visit the Wessex Stadium in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup (3pm). The 36-year-old has not featured for the
DORCHESTER Town need a result today, if they lose they could find themselves in a real struggle among the bottom section of the table for the foreseeable future. Their last two home games, against Bromley and Bognor Regis, have been disappointing because
ROYAL Oak boss Rob Pavey is confident his side can put a decent run together and finally lift themselves off bottom spot in the Domino's Premiership. This renewed belief follows his side's long overdue first victory last weekend at the expense of the
DORCHESTER Town keeper Simon Evans says he is happy to play second fiddle to Darren Behcet and hopes to learn as much as he can from the Yeovil Town loanee. Since joining on a season-long deal Behcet has played more than twice as many minutes as Evans
JON Bevan says he can look back with pride on his performances this season. The Wessex Golf Centre professional's highs included not only qualifying for The Open at Carnoustie, but also making the cut of the lucrative competition. Despite defeat in the
WEYMOUTH professional Michael Watson is already looking ahead to next season after finishing third at the Glenbrae PGA Fourball Championship. The Weymouth Golf Club member, along with partner Martyn Thompson (Parkstone), finished three shots off the
THE kids from Fame are ready to take to the stage once again. Weymouth Operatic Society are staging Fame Forever next spring and have just cast their main young dancers through mass auditions at the town's Pavilion theatre. The show takes the audience
ORGANISERS for the Olympics in Weymouth and Portland are rejecting claims that they will be adopting an 'anti-car' policy in the run-up to 2012. But they are charged with implementing the requirements of the Olympic Delivery Authority, which has now
A MAN had his mobile phone stolen when he was confronted by four youths while walking in Dorchester town centre. Police said the victim was walking along South Walks when he was approached by a group of four people. They were being abusive towards him
THE Shadow Transport Secretary rode the bus in rush hour traffic and criticised South Dorset MP Jim Knight for not sorting out the 'frustrating battle' over the Weymouth relief road. Richard Drax, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for South Dorset
