FREE swimming for the over-60s and youngsters could become available in Purbeck. The district council's policy group has backed the idea, but with some councillors expressing reservations. The question now has to go before the full council meeting which
THE second in a series of alternative films will be shown tomorrow night. Film Dock is a new group launched in Weymouth and Portland for film fans with a difference. Funded by Weymouth College and supported by Portland-based Revolting Graphic Design
IN HER letter to parents, St John's School headteacher Diana Mason welcomes the new school year with news that hot meals are now available at lunch times, supplied by Cygnets, Weymouth College Caterers. A special project this year is to create a Christian
THE theme of this year's Bradford Peverell Gardening and Cookery Show was pumpkins and many villagers and friends took up the challenge. The weather and a variety of pests have tried to prevent success over the summer but on the day a good number of
What a pity that West Dorset District Council wa not a bit braver over the case of Tesco selling alcohol to an under-age person. Here was an opportunity to make an example. I wonder if it had been a corner shop and not Tesco, with all its large legal
DORSET people have chosen a flag to represent the county after voting in their thousands. The winning design - flag B in the four choices - was submitted by Dave White of Dorchester. He said: "We're very pleased about the result - we're glad that when
iTEA and Biscuits Week got off to a successful start in Dorchester when older people headed for Age Concern's cyber café to use a computer for the first time. The week focused on encouraging older people to find out more about what computers have to
THE WORK of a valued service for blind and partially-sighted people is being celebrated this week. The Portland-based South West Dorset Talking Newspaper is hoping to use the national Talking Newspaper Week to draw attention to the service it provides
YOUNG people moved elderly residents to tears when they refurbished their gardens. A team of volunteers from the Bovington branch of The Prince's Trust revamped sheltered housing at Bayeux Court in York Road, Dorchester. They raised more than £700 with
STAFF at a Dorchester jewellers are urging customers to help them raise £5,000 for charity by the end of September. Workers are raising cash for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance by offering free battery replacements for watches in exchange for donations
BRIDPORT Bandits were the heroes of the Wrecks to Czech "race" when they took their battered two-litre Vauxhall Cavalier 2,500 miles across Europe to Prague and won. Bandit secretary Martin Singer, who was in the car with son Ben, Jack Ward and Ryan
The thing about travelling, more precisely the thing about travelling if you are a confirmed carb junkie like little old me is that carbs can quickly begin to make up 80% of your diet, the remaining 20% obviously being chocolate. So in a bid to
PUT your business in the shop window in entering an Open 4 Business contest. The Dorset Echo is sponsoring the Weymouth and Portland Open 4 Business Window Display Competition set up by the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism
WEST Dorset is enjoying a burst of Hardymania as Tess Of The D'Urbervilles takes centre stage in the BBC television autumn highlights. The four-part adaptation - based on the novel by Thomas Hardy - will herald in more television dramas based on fiction
A VAN and a car were in collision in Wool, police said. A force spokesman said a blue Citroen Despatch van registered to a Bournemouth man and a Peugeot 206 registered to a Wareham woman were in collision in Dorchester Road yesterday (Tues).
FIREFIGHTERS swapped their hoses for sponges and buckets to raise money for their charity. Staff at Dorchester fire station took part in a car cleaning day to raise funds for the National Firefighters' Charity - formerly the Fire Service Benevolent Fund
A TEENAGER who suffered serious head injuries in a road crash will undergo further treatment in Southampton. The man, 19, sustained the injuries after being in collision with a saloon car as a pedestrian in Dorchester Road, Weymouth, yesterday (Tues)
A KAYAKING event to raise money for young meningitis victim George Patterson has been postponed for a week. Co-organiser Gary Head has changed the date because he will be recovering from a leg operation. Fundraisers will now paddle along the Fleet from
SALWAY Ash School needs to raise more than £50,000 for improvements. The school asked for a grant from the Salisbury Diocese so it could build a new school hall to replace its woefully small one, said headteacher Lisa Crew. "Our school hall is less
DRIVERS trying to get between Weymouth and Bridport will be forced to make detours when urgent maintenance work begins on the B3157. Roadwork on the coast road is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 6 and will continue through November and December
A MEDIEVAL battle display thrilled the crowd at the Three Churches Fete in Cheselbourne. The Companions of St George medieval troupe's swordfight and tent show entertained 600 visitors in the grounds of Cheselbourne Manor. The fete hosted a bee display
A MENTORING programme that trains secondary school students in Dorset to support younger peers is being showcased nationally today. Peer 2 Peer, developed by the Dorchester-based charity Relate Dorset and South Wiltshire, trains older students to provide
ORGANISERS of an event say it was a success - despite only eight people turning up. Advice being offered at Martinstown Village Hall covered a range of topics from fire safety to tips about benefit entitlement. Representatives from the police, fire
PLANS for a farm site on the edge of Weymouth would be creating an industrial estate in the wrong location, claims a parish council. But planning officer Robert Burden is recommending that West Dorset District Council planners back the application for
WORKMEN have uncovered a piece of Dorchester's history at the town's old brewery site. Cobbles dating back to Georgian times have emerged after being covered for more than 50 years. Now developer Andrew Wadsworth has promised to preserve the historic
COUNCIL chiefs are taking a reality check as they weigh up the risks linked to the Weymouth Pavilion redevelopment. A snapshot of the current situation makes for grim reading as Weymouth and Portland Borough Council officers consider the effects of the
DORCHESTER Town boss Shaun Brooks will do his utmost to maintain the services of loan star Wes Fogden but admits that Saturday's trip to Thurrock "could be his last game". Fogden, who had a loan spell with the Magpies last season, rejoined the county
WEYMOUTH'S Olympic windsurfing bronze medallist Bryony Shaw lies in second place after the first day of the Skandia Sail For Gold regatta at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy. Competing in the RS:X 8.5 Fleet, the 24-year-old from Buxton Road
Dorset Senior League KANGAROOS 3 BISHOPS CAUNDLE 1 A DOUBLE from summer signing Matt Moors inspired Kangaroos to an impressive victory over Bishops Caundle in the Dorset Senior League. Midfielder Ian McDonald gave the Dorchester outfit the lead early
South West Counties Under-18s League DORCHESTER TOWN 0 MERTHYR TYDFIL 1 A CERI Morgan goal mid-way through the first half inflicted an opening day defeat on Dorchester Town Under-18s in South West Counties League Division Two. Lewis Trevett went close
NICK Voss returned in triumph after helping England retain the British Isles International Series junior title in Scotland. The 19-year-old Dorchester bowler was making his international debut - and he did not disappoint with two winning performances
WEYMOUTH II 12 ELLINGHAM & RINGWOOD 20 DESPITE a spirited performance Weymouth Seconds' new Dorset & Wilts Three South season started with a defeat at the hands of Ellingham & Ringwood. The Seasiders, buoyed by the arrival of a new playing strip, sponsored
THE Dorset Echo is offering £150 each month to worthy clubs and youth organisations. Whether you need a new kit, sports equipment or to simply help with your fuels costs, these awards could be the answer. To apply for our sports award you need to write
THE Dorset Echo talks to West Dorset Warriors Swimming Club's Press officer Camilla Thornton who gives an insight into the history of the club and the people behind it. To know West Dorset Swimming Club, first you have to know its head coach and founder
WEST Dorset Swimming Club is celebrating being awarded Swim 21 Accreditation - a national benchmark of excellence created by the Amateur Swimming Association of Great Britain. It is the fourth consecutive year that the Warriors have achieved accreditation
WEYMOUTH Rugby Club's youth teams have returned to training at Monmouth Avenue in eager anticipation of the season ahead. Training for the under-11s, 12s and 13s' age groups is held on a Wednesday night 6.30pm to 8pm and on a Sunday morning 10am to noon
PROMISING keeper Steve Boore is ensuring his "feet are kept on the ground" despite being tracked by a host of top name clubs. The Yeovil Academy gloveman, who attends Budmouth School, has attracted interest from Premier League Everton and other sides
Under-15 Division One WAREHAM RANGERS 2 WEYMOUTH VICTORIA 5 VICTORIA began life in the top-flight with a fine victory at Wareham Rangers. The visitors settled well, playing some good football, and the pressure paid off as they were awarded a corner
