Young smith Jacob JACOB Grant-Jones was celebrating after he achieved his ambition to become the youngest competitor in the National Blacksmiths Competition - and was rewarded with a highly commended certificate. Jacob, 12, of Sutton Poyntz, made a
A FRENCH chef who served gourmet grub from his fast food kiosk in West Bay is saying au revoir after 30 years. Kangaroo burgers and ostrich steaks were amongst the posh nosh on offer at Le Moulin Rouge. Venison, wild boar and garlic-flavoured panninis
TEENAGER Rachael Dewhurst from Long Bredy was chosen as an ambassador for the charity Whizz-Kidz to lobby Liberal Democrats at their party conference in Bournemouth on behalf of disabled children. Rachael, 14, has cerebral palsy and very limited mobility
A POLICE community support officer is cycling from Weymouth to Barcelona - again. PCSO Ade Walker embarked on a similar journey with friend Craig Barter in June 2006 to meet girlfriend Hayley Clark. Now the safer neighbourhood officer from Weymouth
A FOOD and craft brand has revamped its image with a new logo. Direct from Dorset highlights products which have been made using materials from the county. It was set up after the 2001 Foot and Mouth epidemic amid concerns about the impact on the environment
WEYMOUTH and Portland Housing is taking advantage of falling property prices to boost its stock. Managing director Kevin Dey said: "WPH is continuing to liaise closely with builders and has the financial capacity to buy properties at a discounted rate
A LUNCH club for elderly people could be taking its last orders. The popular Chickerell Luncheon Club may be forced to close its doors to 90 elderly members because the volunteers who run it are unable to continue. Organiser Mary Barber will give up
GUERRILLAS armed with trowels and garden forks are carrying out sorties at Poundbury. But the only casualties in their special operations are the weeds and rubbish that accumulate at the Duchy of Cornwall development. The group of residents have banded
THE fourth biennial Open Art Competition at Town Mill in Lyme Regis was a memorable success, with entries and visitors - more than 8,000 - breaking all previous records. The success of the competition is a fantastic vote of confidence for the Town Mill
GIVE us more than £100 million for a bypass if you want more homes tacked on to Dorchester. That's the response from West Dorset District Council to proposed changes to the regional planning blueprint for the years up to 2026. The council has drawn
NEW sailing facilities for the 2012 Olympics are close to completion, organisers announced. The project is expected to be finished ahead of schedule by November - making Weymouth and Portland the first venue ready for the Games. It means that sailing
VILLAGE schoolchildren enjoyed a giant clean up of a Dorset landmark. The Cerne Abbas giant is being given a makeover with new chalk by the National Trust to brighten it up. Cerne Abbas First School's 41 pupils joined teachers and parents to help the
I am a regular visitor to Beaminster but one recent weekend I was astounded and disgusted at the state of the above Yarn Barton Car Park Recycling Point. What an appalling mess to greet visitors to your fine town. There was a disgusting odour which
BIRTHDAY boy Elvis Gillibrand was presented with his cake by a special guest at his party at Weymouth Sports Club... Batman. The caped crusader dropped in as Elvis, pictured centre, celebrated his fifth birthday with pals.
COMMUNITY worker Kris Hallett is pictured with items donated to help a poor community on a remote Fijian island. Mrs Hallett, who works for Dorset Community Action, said she was overwhelmed by the response. "I am indebted especially to Stella Jones
MOTHER and daughter Lisa and Libby Hughes from Portland proudly lifted their medals after the Samaritans fun run. Lisa ran the seven-mile race while Libby was among the youngest entrants in the under-sevens race.
JUDGES will sift through the entries for the Open 4 Business Excellence Awards today. Some 55 entries have been lodged for the Weymouth Football Club sponsored awards. There are six awards up for grabs in the Oscars' of the south and west Dorset world
VOLUNTEER Ted Barrett - known as Super Ted' - was recognised for his efforts at Milton Abbas surgery. Ted spent several years as a member of the Friends of the Practice volunteer team but has now left his home of Milborne St Andrew and moved to pastures
HOT-SHOT Benjamin Jones hit the lanes at Lakeside Superbowl for his sixth birthday. Benjamin, pictured in the red top, was joined by brother Samuel and pals from St Andrew's School.
WEYMOUTH Sailing Club members show off their trophies after returning from the Cowes Week sailing regatta. They won three firsts, a second and a third overall, first team and first lady helm in the National Squib. They are, pictured from left to right
A COUPLE from Weymouth are celebrating after being presented with sales awards. Gail and Brian Reynolds learned the news when they attended a glittering ceremony in Birmingham organised by cosmetics giant Avon. Senior executive sales leader Gail received
A GROUP of children and staff from Julia's House hospice visited Weymouth SeaLife Park. The children boarded a Wilts & Dorset bus from Julia's House in Broadstone and from collection points in Wareham and Dorchester. They are pictured arriving at the
BRADLEY Taylor celebrated his seventh birthday by going on a two-day trip to Legoland. He went on every ride and had a great time. Spongebob Squarepants fan Bradley loved the Spongebob cake which his mum Kirsty designed and made for him. The picture
CHILDREN, teachers, parents and friends celebrated the career of teacher Sylvia Kimbrey. She is retiring after 18 years at Milborne St Andrew First School. A special assembly was held when Mrs Kimbrey was presented with cards made by each year class
OUR relationship with food goes under the spotlight for the next three nights when three of Dorset's leading performers stage a show celebrating its infinite variety. Beanfeast, which was first staged at St Mary's School in Bridport on International
BIRTHDAY girls Ellie Rai Cleaver Coles, left, of Chickerell, and Annie March, right, of Weymouth invited 40 pals to a pyjama disco party. The girls decided to wear the same Sponge Bob Squarepants pyjamas. They are pictured singing happy birthday to
JACOB Grant-Jones was celebrating after he achieved his ambition to become the youngest competitor in the National Blacksmiths Competition - and was rewarded with a highly commended certificate. Jacob, 12, of Sutton Poyntz, made a double-ended hook in
GOLDEN girl Yvonne Bignell marked her 60th birthday in style - with a ride on a Honda Goldwing motorcycle. She enjoyed a ride to West Bay before sitting down to a meal with her family and friends. Yvonne was later due to jet off to Kenya on holiday as
TWO pupils from Weymouth's Quay Theatre Arts have had an exciting period taking the next step towards fulfiling their dreams. Rebecca Griffiths, who has trained with Jill Tindale and Steve Nicholas since Quay started, is to start a three-year degree
CHILDREN'S author Ebony Sutton signed copies of her book Whiskey Bravo Gets His Wings' at the Papoose shop in Weymouth. She spent two hours at the children and baby wear store in St Mary Street meeting youngsters, their parents and grandparents. Ebony
DIVERS told today how they retrieved a car belonging to missing Bridport woman Victoria Mann from the seabed. A team from Weymouth-based Apex Divers were called in by police after the blue Ford Ka was spotted off the Hive Beach, Burton Bradstock. The
IT'S time to join the green revolution. A group of motivated and like-minded citizens in Weymouth and Portland have decided that they must act to tackle climate change and pressures facing the world today. They have formed a Transition Town group and
ADMINISTRATORS are trying to save the Sherborne-based antiques business, Dodge & Son. Directors called administrators Sam Talby and Jerry O'Sullivan of South West accountancy firm Bishop Fleming. They aim to save the business as a going concern and
A BUILDING firm was as pleased as Punch' after scooping four accolades at a pub company's annual awards. Blacknoll Limited won three national and one regional title at the ceremony and dinner dance at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena. Pubs company Punch
POLICE need to evaluate how good their neighbourhood police training is, according to a new report. The report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary also says control room and enquiry centre staff need to make more return calls to people who
JUST HOW GREEN HAVE YOU BEEN By David Webb, chairman of the West Dorset Partnership "I TRY reasonably hard. "We have solar panels on the house to heat the water and there's a supply of wood out the back for the fire. "We recycle and have
SHOP owner Matt Bunce went cycling for recycling. He was among those working in the shoe repair industry who took part in a charity ride to promote a green message and raise £20,000 for Children in Need. The cyclists each rode a stretch of around
METAL detectorist John House claims ancient coins found near Dorchester have been lost after being handed to the authorities for a treasure hearing. He says he is still waiting to find out about silver coins dating back to the Celts that he dug up at
DORCHESTER club captain Patrece Liburd is determined to get the Magpies' season back on track with victory over Thurrock on Saturday. The 20-year-old admits the Magpies have been "poor" defensively of late but believes that three points will help turn
At about midnight as I lay shivering in the thickest and most expensive socks known to man, every piece of clothing I have with me on, and my sleeping bag pulled up right over my head like Harry Houdini about to treat the crowds to a derring-do
WEYMOUTH Doonan Wildcats have been drawn against nearest rivals the Plymouth Devils in the semi-finals of the Conference League play-offs. The league season is yet to be complete but the make-up of the top four has already been determined with Boston
RESCUERS were alerted when a man lost sight of his girlfriend swimming off Newton's Cove, Weymouth. Wyke coastguards and the lifeboat were tasked but the caller spotted his girlfriend swimming back safely.
PORTLAND Amateur Boxing Club is calling on the help of local businesses. The island outfit is currently without a sponsor and club secretary Vince Ealson has labelled the absence as a "major blow" given that the new season has begun and members are already
A ROYAL visitor opened the new environmental garden of a Weymouth school to applause from pupils. HRH the Duke of Gloucester received a warm welcome at Holy Trinity Primary School in Cross Road when he took a closer look at the school's sustainable features
DORCHESTER Town FC have donated a full football kit to young men in Sudan. Football and other sports are being promoted in the area by the church as a way to help communities recover from the traumas of war, which have ruined so many lives. The Magpies
WEYMOUTH'S Paul Goodison enjoyed a fine day on day two of the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta. Competing in the Laser class at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, the Beijing Olympic gold medallist was back on top form winning the last race of the
South West Counties League Division Two WEYMOUTH 1 FOREST GREEN ROVERS 2 DEPLETED Weymouth Under-18s were unfortunate to lose their first home game of the South West Counties League campaign at Weymouth College. The Terras went into the clash minus
WEYMOUTH SPORTS 2 TINTINHULL 2 WEYMOUTH Sports maintained their unbeaten start to the Dorset Senior League with a draw against Tintinhull, which manager Stuart Heath believes "felt like a defeat". Pete Bochonko grabbed Sports' goals with a first-half
TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of possessing equipment for skimming cash machines. Officers were called to Charles Street car park in Dorchester yesterday after a group of men were seen acting suspiciously. Weymouth CID said two men have been
A CYCLIST was pushed off his bike and assaulted by two men in Weymouth last night, police said. The pair punched the man during the attack on the Swannery bridge before stealing his bike. Two local men, aged 19 and 18, have been arrested.
THE Dorchester Evening League celebrated the end of another season with an awards presentation at the Jewson Stadium. Division One winners St George's, champions for the third successive campaign, collected their trophy as did Dewlish and Winfrith who
