TWO people are seriously ill in hospital following a head-on crash yesterday. A 34-year-old mother was travelling with her husband and two young children when an accident happened on the Bovington Road, one mile east of Waddock Cross, at 10.55am. The
SIX days after being incarcerated in a tiny room, roofer Scott Burton emerged triumphant, as the winner of the Little Sister challenge organised by 2CR FM. The 27-year-old from Blandford used the occasion to propose to his girlfriend Crystal Fonteneau
INCREASING numbers of New Forest ponies are being slaughtered and their meat exported to satisfy diners on the Continent who are rejecting European beef because of worries over BSE. That is the claim of a pressure group now calling for stricter controls
AN ELDERLY couple who had £800 Christmas savings stolen after bogus council plumbers conned their way into their home - have had the money replaced by a kind-hearted businessman. The Echo reported the heartbreaking story of how Jim, 92, and Amy Baker,
HE'S the boy next door, he collects tea caddies and he's good to his old mum. What's more Irish crooner Daniel O'Donnell drives his fans crazy with the kind of devotion that fellow countryman Ronan Keating could only dream of. He may be the mild man of
TAKING children and the elderly on outings and raising thousands of pounds for charity - these are just some of the aims of the new student leaders at Bournemouth University. Student Union president Emily Whinnett, vice president of student affairs Anna
WITH one of the highest homeless populations outside the capital, Bournemouth has been included in a national scheme aiming to give extra help to rough sleepers this winter. In the run-up to Christmas the charities Shelter and Crisis have linked up to
PIRATES star Mark Loram stressed he would be re-signing for Poole last night. Speedway's World champion ended weeks of uncertainty by pledging his future to Poole in 2001 immediately after picking up the BBC South Sports Personality of the Year award.
A NEW car parking scheme to encourage shoppers to make return visits to Wareham has been launched by Purbeck District Council. Shoppers will now be able to redeem their car parking tickets for a discount of 30 pence - an hour's fee -- on purchases of
CHRISTCHURCH 2 - FAREHAM 1 CHRISTCHURCH had goalkeeper Max Frampton to thank as his outstanding last-minute save gave Priory all three points against bottom-of-the-league Fareham Town, writes Karenza Morton. Priory had been cruising at 2-0 with 12 minutes
SHAFTESBURY Football Club has taken the steps to provide a junior squad with a free open coaching day. The session marks the launch of the Junior Rockies and will be followed up with regular Saturday morning sessions in the New Year. Neil Coates, Players
BASHLEY 1 - ST ALBANS CITY 7 BASHLEY'S brave efforts in this season's FA Umbro Trophy were brought down to earth with a staggering thump, as they were comprehensively destroyed 7-1 by Ryman Premier Division St Albans City. On a less than complimentary
BOURNEMOUTH POPPIES 3 - LYMINGTON AND NM 5 LEIGH Phillips bagged a hat-trick to earn Lymington and New Milton three points in a scintillating eight-goal Wessex League encounter with Poppies at Victoria Park. Linnets were made to work for their points
BASHLEY 1 - ST ALBANS CITY 7 BASHLEY'S brave efforts in this season's FA Umbro Trophy were brought down to earth with a staggering thump, as they were comprehensively destroyed 7-1 by Ryman Premier Division St Albans City. On a less than complimentary
BLANDFORD moved into the last 32 of the Tetley's Bitter Vase with a thrilling 10-9 fourth round victory over Old Cryptians at the Milldown. Simon Wingrove outpaced the Old Cryptians defence just before half-time to score the only try. And Blandford, 10
DORCHESTER failed to repeat their FA Cup success in the FA Trophy when their heavily- handicapped side went down 3-0 in the uninspiring surrounds of Harrow Borough's gloomy Earlsmead ground. It was a world apart from the JJB Stadium at Wigan and with
CONFIDENT Weymouth booked a place in today's third round draw following this 2-0 FA Trophy second round win over Ryman League Premier Division outfit Hitchin Town. But the Terras left it late to kill off their ten-man opponents and had two strikes in
CHERRIES boss Sean O'Driscoll has told midfielder Carl Fletcher to clean up his disciplinary act. Fletcher was both hero and villain as Cherries completed a hat-trick of Division Two victories with an emphatic 3-0 triumph over Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday
SEAN O'Driscoll will ask referee Phil Dowd to review Gareth Stewart's late booking after the Cherries goalkeeper was allegedly struck by coins at Adams Park on Saturday. Stewart was cautioned for time wasting in the 82nd minute, but claims he delayed
A BID by Dorchester's Tesco store to expand its range of goods suffered a setback today. Selling an unrestricted range of merchandise would undermine the vitality and viability of the town - council officials have claimed. The supermarket giant has applied
CAMPAIGNERS have warned of "enormous damage" to the countryside after indications that Weymouth's relief road was to go-ahead. The resort's controversial £30 million scheme is thought to be on a 77-strong Government shortlist of roads projects around
TWO cars collided head-on near Affpuddle on Sunday morning leaving the two drivers seriously injured. The accident happened at 10.45am on the Bovington Road between Gallow's Hill and Waddock Cross. In one car, a grey Peugeot 405 estate, was a family of
FISHERMEN in Weymouth and Portland have reacted angrily to a controversial proposal which could see massive cuts in the amount of fish caught off the coast. The latest round of 'belt-tightening' by European ministers in a bid to conserve fish stocks in
WEST Dorset district councillors are being asked to back a bid for cash for CCTV cameras in Dorchester. The Dorchester CCTV Action Group has until December 21 to submit a bid for the high-tech cameras after the Home Office brought forward the deadline
Barbara Dickson, Pavilion IN the precarious world of show business, so much depends on luck - simply being in the right place at the right time. But even given the luck, the career will be short-lived without the talent to go with it. Barbara Dickson
ASTRONOMER Patrick Moore lowered his horizons to help raise the roof at a Dorset church. Villagers in Cattistock need to raise in the region of £100,000 to replace the roof on the nave of the village church. The roof collapsed in the summer and although
DORSET could soon see the return of one its most majestic birds - the red kite. New figures show that the population of red kites in the UK has shot up to its highest level in 150 years. The UK population now stands at 429 pairs, 131 of which are in England
THE funeral of Kevin Challis, the Dorset ski instructor who was killed in the Austrian tunnel fire disaster, will be held tomorrow. The funeral will take place on the day Kevin would have celebrated his 41st birthday, in the ski resort of Kaprun where
AS BRITAIN was lashed by the wettest autumn on record, Weymouth faced just a third of the rainfall flood-hit areas suffered. Weather expert for the area, Bob Poots, revealed the resort has endured far more serious drenchings in the past - with eight wetter
CONFIDENT Weymouth booked a place in today's third round draw following this 2-0 FA Trophy second round win over Ryman League Premier Division outfit Hitchin Town. But the Terras left it late to kill off their ten-man opponents and had two strikes in
Supergirly: Pavilion Theatre. IT was very simple, very basically done but Supergirly was spot-on. The Australian twosome - Louise McClatchy and Jai Simeone - butchered the entire fluffy pop industry and with laddish thuggery laid the boot into everyone
WEST Dorset district councillors are being asked to back a bid for cash for CCTV cameras in Dorchester. The Dorchester CCTV Action Group has until December 21 to submit a bid for the high-tech cameras after the Home Office brought forward the deadline
ASTRONOMER Patrick Moore lowered his horizons to help raise the roof at a Dorset church. Villagers in Cattistock need to raise in the region of £100,000 to replace the roof on the nave of the village church. The roof collapsed in the summer and although
DORSET could soon see the return of one its most majestic birds - the red kite. New figures show that the population of red kites in the UK has shot up to its highest level in 150 years. The UK population now stands at 429 pairs, 131 of which are in England
THE funeral of Kevin Challis, the Dorset ski instructor who was killed in the Austrian tunnel fire disaster, will be held tomorrow. The funeral will take place on the day Kevin would have celebrated his 41st birthday, in the ski resort of Kaprun where
WILDLIFE and walkers' groups in Dorset have welcomed new laws to protect the natural environment and open up the countryside. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act, which has now been passed by parliament, has been hailed as a major breakthrough by conservationists
A young father who went off the rails after he caught the mother of his two children with his best friend has narrowly escaped jail. Tristan Brown embarked on a two-month bout of heavy drinking and bad behaviour after the shock discovery in early October
WOULD-BE David Beckhams and Alan Shearers from Blandford Youth Centre demonstrated their skills to win the Dorset leg of a national football tournament. The under-16s five-a-side squad beat off stiff competition from 20 other teams to take the winners
NEW laws on pension splitting have now come into force, entitling divorcees for the first time to a share in their partner's pension. The changes came into effect under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 after nine years of lobbying by the Law Society
A PLANNING fiasco riddled with bad management and sloppy errors has seen Christchurch council hammered by a government watchdog. A damning report by the Local Government Ombudsman has found the authority guilty of a string of foul-ups over an "eyesore
CHOCOLATES and crisps have temporarily been replaced with juicy fruit at a school - and it's received the thumbs-up from the now health-conscious pupils. Somerford Junior School in Christchurch has been providing its pupils with a bountiful supply of
Christmas is coming and the Hollywood product is getting fatuous, so it comes as a pleasant surprise to discover that Ron Howard's live-action version of the Dr Seuss classic is an enchanting fairy-tale. Inside a snowflake, high atop Mount Crumpit, lives
AFC Bournemouth has revealed the range of community facilities that will be incorporated into its brand new 12,000- all-seater stadium. Hundreds of Cherries' fans are expected to descend on the BIC on Thursday night when the club officially launches its
A BUILDER who has had his tools stolen three times in the past 16 months believes he is the target of professional thieves. And now Malcolm Wright, from Bear Cross, is warning others to engrave tools with their names and company logos in a bid to stop
Education of teachers and pupils and how this can be used to combat racism will be discussed at the council meeting on Monday. Contrary to popular belief racism does seep into local schools, the council claims, in the shape of verbal abuse and on several
DORSET spinner Vyv Pike overshadowed legendary Aussie bowler Shane Warne by picking up the BKL Weeks Green Cricketer-of-the-Year award. Pike, who took 57 wickets as Dorset won the Minor Counties Championship for the first time, received the award at the
BLANDFORD moved into the last 32 of the Tetley's Bitter Vase with a thrilling 10-9 fourth round victory over Old Cryptians at the Milldown. Simon Wingrove outpaced the Old Cryptians defence just before half-time to score the only try. And Blandford, 10
A VULNERABLE Parkstone pensioner has been found safe and well 12 hours after being reported missing. Pauline Bruce disappeared after visiting her husband at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital between 5pm and 7pm yesterday. Staff and police had carried out
TODAY is the start of week-long appeal to collect toys for disadvantaged youngsters in Poole. The Daily Echo is backing the appeal by acting as a collection point for donated toys. The Rotary Club of Parkstone is hoping to receive more toys than ever
BOURNEMOUTH POPPIES 3 - LYMINGTON AND NM 5 LEIGH Phillips bagged a hat-trick to earn Lymington and New Milton three points in a scintillating eight-goal Wessex League encounter with Poppies at Victoria Park. Linnets were made to work for their points
DORSET spinner Vyv Pike overshadowed legendary Aussie bowler Shane Warne by picking up the BKL Weeks Green Cricketer-of-the-Year award. Pike, who took 57 wickets as Dorset won the Minor Counties Championship for the first time, received the award at the
FORMER British heavyweight champion Julius Francis has labelled Bournemouth's unbeaten Steve Bendall as "someone to watch out for in the future", writes Phil Chard. Francis saw Bendall celebrate his 27th birthday by beating Southampton's experienced campaigner
LAST Sunday the entire first team squad travelled to Potterne Park in Verwood to play a charity match for local baby, Harvey Luckham, born with a mis-shapen head. Sean O'Driscoll's men took on Rosgarth Under-14s and Verwood Veterans as players raised
HUNDREDS of New Forest residents put their best feet forward to make a record-breaking splash for charity. Walkers and riders who took part in the New Forest Experience event have raced past the original £15,000 sponsorship target set to help the continued
MONDAY (4) Wind In The Willows, Bryanston Arts Centre, Blandford TUESDAY (5) Little Miss Muffet, The Acting Caledonians, United Reformed Church, Spa Road, Weymouth Wind In The Willows, Bryanston Arts Centre Servant To Two Masters, Poole Arts Centre WEDNESDAY
The country's prison boss spoke about the need for changes at Portland's Young Offender Institution - as a hostage crisis unfolded just yards away. The drama happened as Prison Service chief Martin Narey made an official visit to the YOI. During his tour
THE man at the centre of the British Museum stone row has defended his part in the scheme for the first time. Geoff Smith, owner of Easton Masonry, which supplied stone for the controversial south portico, said he had no choice but to supply French material
POLICE have today vowed to get tough with pickpockets and drunken yobs who threaten to mar Weymouth's Victorian Shownight. Thousands of families, funseekers and Christmas shoppers are expected to pack the town centre and Hope Square for the late-night
WILDLIFE and walkers' groups in Dorset have welcomed new laws to protect the natural environment and open up the countryside. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act, which has now been passed by parliament, has been hailed as a major breakthrough by conservationists
A NEW foster home for rescued cats is to be set up on Portland by West Dorset Cats Protection. The £553 raised by members of the organisation at a bazaar held in the Jubilee Hall in Easton will go towards providing pens for the animals. Cats of the cuddly
MEMORIES were revived for Susann Palmer of Weston Road, Portland, when she read the account of The Real Great Escape (Echo, December 16) for, like Weymouth man Alf Allsopp, she too had met escapees from that epic wartime event. Mrs Palmer said: "Early
ACCOMPLISHED water babe, 13-year-old Leanne Studley of Easton, who is a pupil at the Royal Manor School and swims with the Tornadoes, is adding to her collection of cups, trophies and other awards at local and county level. Swimming in Division 2 at the
A BID by Dorchester's Tesco store to expand its range of goods suffered a setback today. Selling an unrestricted range of merchandise would undermine the vitality and viability of the town - council officials have claimed. The supermarket giant has applied
The country's prison boss spoke about the need for changes at Portland's Young Offender Institution - as a hostage crisis unfolded just yards away. The drama happened as Prison Service chief Martin Narey made an official visit to the YOI. During his tour
CAMPAIGNERS have warned of "enormous damage" to the countryside after indications that Weymouth's relief road was to go-ahead. The resort's controversial £30 million scheme is thought to be on a 77-strong Government shortlist of roads projects around
TWO cars collided head-on near Affpuddle on Sunday morning leaving the two drivers seriously injured. The accident happened at 10.45am on the Bovington Road between Gallow's Hill and Waddock Cross. In one car, a grey Peugeot 405 estate, was a family of
THE man at the centre of the British Museum stone row has defended his part in the scheme for the first time. Geoff Smith, owner of Easton Masonry, which supplied stone for the controversial south portico, said he had no choice but to supply French material
POLICE have today vowed to get tough with pickpockets and drunken yobs who threaten to mar Weymouth's Victorian Shownight. Thousands of families, funseekers and Christmas shoppers are expected to pack the town centre and Hope Square for the late-night
THE funeral of Kevin Challis, the Dorset ski instructor who was killed in the Austrian tunnel fire disaster, will be held tomorrow. The funeral will take place on the day Kevin would have celebrated his 41st birthday, in the ski resort of Kaprun where
AS BRITAIN was lashed by the wettest autumn on record, Weymouth faced just a third of the rainfall flood-hit areas suffered. Weather expert for the area, Bob Poots, revealed the resort has endured far more serious drenchings in the past - with eight wetter
WILDLIFE and walkers' groups in Dorset have welcomed new laws to protect the natural environment and open up the countryside. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act, which has now been passed by parliament, has been hailed as a major breakthrough by conservationists
DORSET could soon see the return of one its most majestic birds - the red kite. New figures show that the population of red kites in the UK has shot up to its highest level in 150 years. The UK population now stands at 429 pairs, 131 of which are in England
THE successful Responsible Retailer scheme which prevents age-restricted sales to children has recognised Shaftesbury traders for the third year running. King Alfred's Middle School Action Group pupils, and former pupils who started the scheme originally
PIRATES star Mark Loram stressed he would be re-signing for Poole last night. Speedway's World champion ended weeks of uncertainty by pledging his future to Poole in 2001 immediately after picking up the BBC South Sports Personality of the Year award.
SUGGESTING a business should expand could be "the worst possible advice" if its turnover is immediately below the VAT threshold, warn accountants. Retailers and other service industry businesses that cross the VAT turnover threshold - currently £52,000
