A YEAR ago today father-of-three Colin Grady left his family home for the shop he ran in Wareham. But the 45-year-old never turned up at The Leather Shop, which he ran with wife Janet, and police have confirmed he is today still missing. Mr Grady, who
HE was the biggest star of his day - a theatrical thoroughbred with Bournemouth connections who became the first-ever actor to be knighted. Now a panel dedicated to his memory has been uncovered in the town's Russell Cotes Museum, which has a room devoted
A FORMER soldier has been found guilty of the horrific murder of Poole masseuse Angela Chiu. David Stevenson, 37, of Thorne Close, Verwood, had denied murdering Mrs Chiu at her home in Haven Road, Canford Cliffs, in July 2003. His Honour Justice David
A FORMER soldier has been found guilty of the horrific murder of Poole masseuse Angela Chiu. David Stevenson, 39, of Thorne Close, Verwood, had denied murdering Mrs Chiu at her home in Haven Road, Canford Cliffs, in July 2003. His Honour Justice David
RESIDENTS are battling to save one of the few remaining Victorian villas in Swanage. Studland Properties Ltd is applying to turn Sea Court into flats and build a block of eight flats in its garden. It is the latest in a series of five applications affecting
A WOMAN from Poole was killed when the car she was a passenger in smashed into the central reservation. The 41-year-old died from a head injury at the scene of the accident, on the Dorset Way approximately 400 metres east of the junction with Adastral
GUY Spencer and Jon Sanchez were the stars of the show as Bournemouth overran Minety 106-5 to rewrite the club's record books in a one-sided Southern Counties South contest at Chapel Gate. Spencer established a new club record of five tries scored in
DORSET'S under-15 team have been crowned champions of the South West Counties League after finishing with two fine victories over Gloucester and Wiltshire. The unbeaten aces have dominated their division having also chalked up wins over Avon, Cornwall
DORCHESTER TOWN 0 AFC BOURNEMOUTH 2 MARK Morris thanked Cherries boss Sean O'Driscoll for giving his squad "just what we needed" after this entertaining friendly at the Avenue Stadium last night. O'Driscoll's full Coca-Cola League One outfit - smarting
ANGRY villagers say a tree which is thought to have been planted by Queen Mary more than 75 years ago has been felled without adequate consultation. Since 1929 the beech tree on the Shaftesbury Estate at Wimborne St Giles has been a dominating feature
DISGRUNTLED islanders lashed out at a government agency that they say is redeveloping a former naval base without considering local needs. But the South West England Regeneration Development Agency (SWERDA) has now promised more communication about what
WORRIED villagers fear increased air traffic from low-fare airlines flying into Bournemouth Airport will create more noise and shatter their peaceful way of life. Now residents from Bransgore, which is in the flight path of all aeroplanes heading east
DEFENDING a decision to reject a wind farm application could cost North Dorset District Council £76,000 - and the taxpayer will foot the bill. Around one-sixth of an anticipated 24 per cent rise in council tax precept covers the projected cost of defending
STRIKER Dani Rodrigues took his first steps on the comeback trail during Cherries' friendly at Dorchester Town on Tuesday. Rodrigues returned to action after spending three weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury and was given a 45-minute run-out against
DRIVERS who get behind the wheel after taking illegal drugs should lose their licence whether unfit to drive or not, says Christchurch MP Chris Chope. Currently the Crown Prosecution Service has to prove a drugged driver was unfit to drive before a ban
THERE'S a television series running at the moment in which ordinary people are taught to manage their time more effectively. The premise of Speed Up, Slow Down is that someone who complains that there aren't enough hours in the day gets visited by two
IT'S official - politics is cool. Gone are the days when young people were apathetic about current affairs. Today's youths, it appears, are becoming increasingly interested in politics. A poll of 500 people aged between 16 and 20 found that an impressive
A FORMER soldier has been found guilty of the horrific murder of Poole masseuse Angela Chiu. David Stevenson, 37, of Thorne Close, Verwood, had denied murdering Mrs Chiu at her home in Haven Road, Canford Cliffs, in July 2003. His Honour Justice David
A BB-gunman who has shot through dozens of Poole windows in the past fortnight has struck six more times in the town - and Bournemouth businesses have now fallen victim to similar shootings. As reported in the Daily Echo on Tuesday, the yob has fired
A PENSIONER in Poole was charged hundreds of pounds for a few minutes' work to fix a couple of lights. Seventy-two-year old Jenny Kenyon from Ashley Cross phoned Southern Plumbing Services last weekend after a light in her lounge and kitchen blew. As
A PENSIONER in Poole was charged hundreds of pounds for a few minutes' work to fix a couple of lights. Seventy-two-year old Jenny Kenyon from Ashley Cross phoned Southern Plumbing Services last weekend after a light in her lounge and kitchen blew. As
LOUISE Damen finished third in the British Universities Cross-Country Championships, writes Nigel Harding. The Bournemouth AC star completed the 6km course at Bodington Hall in Leeds in 22 mins 17 sec, but was pipped by two seconds for the runner-up slot
TERRAS defender Steve Tully has come off the Wessex Stadium transfer list. Last year's player of the year shocked the club last month when he asked for a move from the Nationwide Conference South outfit. He then criticised boss Steve Johnson for making
ANDY Harris admits it was a shock when someone told him that next season was his tenth as a Dorchester player. "Where have the last ten years gone," said the former Sherborne, Bridport and Yeovil defender whose long service with the Magpies is being rewarded
THOUSANDS of pensioners across Dorset and Hampshire may be turning to gambling to boost their income, it is feared. Pensioners are no strangers to bingo halls and betting shops but latest research reveals that many are there for more than entertainment
PIRATES fans are going to get an early chance to see 'mystery' asset Pepe Protasiewicz ride at Poole this year when he takes part in Magnus Zetterstrom's Testimonial next month. The 30-year-old Pole and former Grand Prix star joined the Dorset club's
THEY like to play the social misfits. Which is always a good starting point for any renegade rock band. And just in case you don't get the picture, Detroit desperados Electric Six send out press releases in which they liken themselves to wild west outlaws
PORTLANDERS feared they had been hit by an earthquake when their homes swayed and furniture moved as tremors hit the island. People living in Fortuneswell say they felt a surge through their houses and the chairs they sat on moved across the floor. It
HEALTH secretary Dr John Reid opened Portland's newly refurbished community hospital. He made a visit to the island to meet staff and patients at the hospital yesterday. On a tour of the hospital he admired the new 16-bed ward, X-ray facilities, conservatory
ARSONISTS have struck again on Portland and torched an islander's car. A Citroen Xantia belonging to Castletown resident Melvin Bird was destroyed by fire. Mr Bird, 52, said: "I am gutted - my car is totalled, completely burnt-out. "It is very inconvenient
LITTLE Tegan Barker has been presented with her award for triumphing in the prestigious Dorset Echo Child of the Year portrait contest. Two-year-old Tegan received a framed copy of her winning portrait, a trophy and £100 in Woolworths vouchers. Tegan,
