I read with interest the letter How much is green costing us?' from Mr Lossemore of Betterment Properties (Letters, December 6) concerning the land at Markham and Little Francis. He quite rightly states the village green' has not lost its right to village
A BODY found on Bournemouth beach has been confirmed as that of missing Bridport teenager Dominic Maynard. An inquest into his death has been opened by the coroner. Dominic, 19, went missing in November. A spokesman for Dorset Police said their thoughts
WORRIED volunteers at Weymouth's historic Nothe Fort have urged the council to bear the attraction's future in mind when considering the Pavilion redevelopment. Publicity officer Brian Sneddon said that the fort was in a prime position for viewing the
A MAN mouthed insults and sneered at a witness from the public gallery during a crown court trial, a jury was told. Phillip Glenn Cordwell, 48, formerly of Castle Close in Dorchester, denies intimidating Vicki Jane Button as she tried to give evidence
BRIDPORT'S Christmas shopping festival was back with a vengeance last night. The signal to start the ball rolling came from Bridport mayor Geoff Ackerman when he switched on the Christmas tree lights in Bucky Doo Square. There was plenty to keep shoppers
RED tape has delayed plans to confirm new bylaws covering cycling along Weymouth and Preston promenades. Two years ago Weymouth and Portland Borough Council agreed to amend two bylaws, one for the seashore and promenade and one for Preston Beach promenade
PORTLAND in Bloom competition winners were presented with their trophies and certificates at a short ceremony held at the town council offices in Fortuneswell. The eight categories in the competition, which attracted 10 entries, were judged during August
BARMAN Andrew James Staff made a ligature out of a black bin bag to hang himself at Chapelhay Heights in Weymouth, a coroner heard. The 54-year-old tightened the ligature using a crutch by lodging the end in a tree, West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston
CHILD physiotherapist Tess James has retired after helping youngsters for nearly 30 years. Ms James, 58, started in 1979 at Dorchester's Child Development Unit and was there when it joined as part of the new Children's Centre in Dorset County Hospital
PEOPLE have been ordering their tickets for the WI Singers popular annual Christmas concert for weeks if not months. For two nights the WI Hall in Gallwey Road was filled to capacity and the audience's expectations were not disappointed. Once again,
ENJOY a Christmas drink but don't spoil the fun for others or yourself. That's the seasonal message from Dorchester Crime Prevention Panel as it launches a new campaign - Christmas Cheers - to encourage a merry time, not a drunken one. Chairman Jon
A 50-YEAR-OLD disabled widow is living in a freezing house with no hot water - and has been told she will have to wait up to six months for a new boiler. Caroline Beddows, of Crock Lane, Bridport applied for a Government Warm Front grant in September
I REFER to the article Top class results for our county's schools' and the league table of Dorset Schools with regard to Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) for 11-year-olds (Echo, December 6). Readers may well be puzzled as to why Holy Trinity School,
A SUPER moggy from Beaminster has been named Britain's top cat. Rocky - a short-haired British Blue - KO'd the opposition to take the title in London. The National Cat Show at Olympia is the feline world's equivalent of Crufts. Rocky - show name Mibaybese
CONVERSION plans for a dilapidated Weymouth home have been welcomed by councillors. Members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's planning committee approved an application to convert a mid-terraced house in Lennox Street into two maisonettes.
HOUSEHOLDERS from Chickerell have lit up their street in aid of the RNLI. They have set up their Christmas decorations in Elizabeth Way, just off Putton Lane, Charlestown. Emma and Gary Collins have organised the display with neighbour Dave Redvers-Camp
GOOD Golly - lots of holly turned into Christmas decorations at a wreath making session held by florist Lorna Miles in Winterbourne Steepleton. Mums and friends from the Winterbourne Valley got together for the session and enjoyed mulled wine
BIRTHDAY boy Oliver Burton took a group of friends to shoot it out at Sharky's on Custom House Quay in Weymouth. Oliver, who is pictured in the middle with a green T-shirt, of Chickerell Road, Weymouth, held the party for his eighth birthday
ball at Kingston Maurward House, near Dorchester. It included a reception, dinner, music, dancing and entertainment. The group pictured left to right are Joe Fisher, Kerrie Pullin, Greg Rochester, Loren Stoodley, Julie Watson, Claire Glorney, Jodie
YEAR 1 pupils from Southill Primary School in Weymouth entertained shoppers at Brewers Quay.
BOPSTARS dance school raised £300 for the local branch of Post Natal Depression from the proceeds of their annual Showcase held at Weymouth College. Pictured are some of the pupils handing the cheque over to Post Natal Depression representatives
THE ladies of the Weymouth Branch Events Group of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution held their Christmas evening at Brewers Quay in Weymouth
CENTENARIAN Gertrude Turner celebrated her 100th birthday with family at the Rembrandt Hotel in Weymouth. Mrs Turner, who is a Weymouth and Portland Housing tenant, is pictured proudly displaying the Queen's card congratulating her on reaching the
A GROUP of Weymouth children held a sale outside their house to raise money to buy toys for the children's ward at Dorset County Hospital. They collected nearly £40 and bought iron-on beads craft sets. Pictured are Arianna Matthews, nine, Megan Brown
A CHRISTMAS disco, fancy dress and line dancing event was held at the Ocean Room at Weymouth Pavilion
TRUSTEES and fundraisers were entitled to make a drama out of their latest achievement - their 75th anniversary. The stalwarts of Weymouth Drama Club held a gala dinner at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy to mark the achievement.
MORE than 30 colleagues past and present from the school of construction and engineering joined in the celebrations with Richard Mortimer who has been at Weymouth College for 25 years. Richard has spent most of that time in the masonry department
ALTERATIONS to a Weymouth housing development have been given the go-ahead by councillors. Planning committee members have approved changes to the 69-home scheme on Dorchester Road, which will include 20 affordable housing units. The former Redlands
PLANS for a block of eight flats near Weymouth seafront have been turned down by the council's planning committee. Councillors decided the three-storey development would be too big and would take up the full width of the Westerhall Road site. They were
SMOKERS at a Weymouth nightclub face a soaking on rainy nights after councillors ruled an illegally erected awning should be removed. The retractable awning was put up without planning permission outside the Rendezvous nightclub in St Thomas Street.
SHOPPING streets are set to burst into life at the Easton Christmas Promise on Portland on Friday, December 14. The second annual late night shopping extravaganza and festival will begin at 5.30pm centred around Easton Gardens. It is being organised
A PUBLIC inquiry inspector is now considering whether the £84 million relief road is vital - or if it will cause more harm than good. Alan Gray sat at County Hall, Dorchester, yesterday to hear closing statements from both sides on road need and compulsory
HOSPITAL staff will be able to summon police more quickly if trouble breaks out on the wards - thanks to a new piece of kit. A walkie-talkie radio link will be on hand to alert police instantly if trouble erupts at Dorset County Hospital. And CCTV
STAFF barricaded themselves inside a store to thwart an abusive man, a court heard. Darren George, 36, was told to leave Weymouth's branch of B&Q after the manager saw him place items down his trousers and in his back pockets on September 21. George
GUESTS tucked in at the latest Battens business breakfast at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. They enjoyed a full English breakfast and networked before hearing from guest speaker Simon Raynes from the Dorset Strategic Partnership.
SMALL businesses are calling for more opportunities to bid for council contracts. They want more chances to supply local authorities with goods and services. Now all seven Dorset Branches of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) are working together
DORCHESTER chairman Eddie Belt has played down fears the club is close to going into administration after owner Eddie Mitchell refused to comment on the situation. Belt told Echosport: "It's news to me, hand on heart I can say that I have no reason to
WEYMOUTH goalkeeper Jason Matthews is glad to be back in manager Jason Tindall's "good books." The 32-year-old lost his place to youngster Jon Stewart towards the end of September but has since won it back and is now looking forward to helping the Terras
FESTIVE fun explodes into life in Yeovil tomorrow when the curtain rises on the Octagon Theatre's annual panto. This year, the popular venue is staging Jack and the Beanstalk and it promises to be a joyous, madcap romp that will have children and adults
DORSET'S Minor Counties head coach Richard Scott has left his post to become the new second team coach at Middlesex. Scott, 44, has been playing with Southern Electric Premier League Bournemouth since before, during and after his spell as a professional
PORTLAND Red Triangle have named Martin Hewson as their new first-team captain and he has vowed to make the club "more professional." The islanders suffered relegation from Dorset League Division Two in the summer under the guidance of outgoing skipper
FURTHER to my recent report on the Chesil Bank Parish Plan Showcase held in November I have had an email from Andy Matthews of Dorset County Council. Although those that attended the showcase were extremely disappointed not to see a representative from
THE next Pact meeting is being held on Tuesday, December 18 at the Weymouth Fire Station at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to go along to hear what the outcome of the actions from the last meeting. If you have any issues about Westham, Pact is the place to
WHEN I arrived at the Christmas coffee morning at St Francis Church, it was standing room only and I don't think that I've ever seen as many people at a coffee morning before! It seems that 75 people dropped in during the morning and I think that most
