THE next big do is on Friday, December 17th at 6.30 pm when we have our traditional Candlelit Carol Service – it is a magical start to Christmas proper. We follow that with Wassail & mince pies in the hall, and this year we will then retire to the
500 jobs are to be axed next year at Dorset County Council as it tries to find £50m worth of savings, it was announced today. If you are affected by the cuts call the Dorset Echo newsdesk on 01305 830999 or email newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk
TWO brothers could have made more than £1 million by misleading thousands of customers into visiting a Lapland-style theme park, a court heard this morning. Visitors to Lapland New Forest were offered a winter wonderland with snow-covered log
DORSET Police, trading standards officers and the Environment Agency are warning people to remain on their guard against rogue traders during the winter. The authorities are warning that even though bogus tradespeople are seen to be more active during
COFFEE and carols by candlelight begins the Christmas season at Lanehouse Rocks Methodist Church, Lynch Lane, at 7pm on Monday, December 13. You are invited to come along and choose your favourite carols to sing, bring along a poem or reading and enjoy
TWO women are calling for drivers to slow down in residential areas after their beloved cats were run over. Jackie Gilbert and her neighbour Sandy Tuck were heartbroken when they discovered their pets had to drag their injured bodies’ home because the
Win a Panasonic ES-RF31 4-blade Wet and Dry Shaver! Man Guide to Intelligent Living Being a man in the new decade is more complicated than at any point in our history. No longer are we happy with a pint and our team’s footie score. We are now
CUTTING the opening hours of the minor injuries clinic in Portland will put ‘money before lives,’ a nurse claims. The Dorset Echo has learned that the Minor Injuries Unit at Portland plans to cut its 8am to 8pm daily hours to 10.30am to 6pm. It comes
RESIDENTS are being urged not to call the fire service if their free smoke alarms are faulty. Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is sending letters to more than 20,000 homes, which have received a home fire safety check in the last few years and had alarms
A FURIOUS businessman has branded local state schools ‘pathetic’ and ‘inconsiderate’ for failing to open in the snow. Jan Merriott, co-owner of property consultants Bartle Pye in Dorchester, says schools in the private sector showed ‘British
WEYMOUTH businessman Nick Bourne has scooped the regional Franchisee of the Year Award. The Cash Generators supremo beat hundreds of rivals to claim the title at the NEC in Birmingham. Nick claimed the British Franchise Association HSBC Franchisee of
I REFER to the article ‘Trapped in own home’ (Echo, December 4). The police did not close Norfolk and Hereford Road as stated in the article. The men trying to help direct traffic away from the dangerous conditions on the hill on the corner of Norfolk
THE patter of tiny feet is being heard at a Weymouth pub after five members of staff gave birth. Five workers at Wetherspoons pub The Swan, in St Thomas Street, have given birth this year. It’s been revealed since the Dorset Echo first
CAMPAIGNERS behind Weymouth’s Refuge are celebrating a ‘huge’ step forward after finding a buyer for the former building to turn it into a half-way house. Magna Housing is expressing an interest in taking it over and converting it into three or four
ALEX Halloran admits it would be an “amazing” achievement for Weymouth to beat the drop – and is tipping his team-mates to bounce back when they entertain Evesham United this weekend. The former Portland United man, who can operate at full-back or in
SHAUN Hearn is adamant there will be no repeat of last season’s strife, where the big freeze threatened the very future of Dorchester Town. The Magpies lost three games to icy conditions last winter and a subsequent drop in revenue at that time saw the
SOUTHAMPTON SHARKS 100 WEYMOUTH BANDITS 91 WEYMOUTH Bandits missed out on back-to-back wins in Solent League Division One as they went down to a nine-point defeat at Southampton Univer-sity. The game started at a very quick pace with
FORMER Weymouth cricketer Darren McBride is with the Barmy Army in Australia for the Ashes Test Series. The 39-year-old ex-Seasider will be keeping Echosport readers up-to-date with his experiences as England look to bring back the coveted
BUDDING football stars are being given the chance to develop their skills under the expert tuition of Weymouth boss Ian Hutchinson. The Terras will be holding a Christmas Soccer School at the Bob Lucas Stadium on December 20 (9am-1pm) where a maximum
TORNADOES of South Dorset members are continuing to push themselves to the limit with the Trophy Gala seeing an 86 per cent improvement in personal best times in the 800m freestyle. Fifteen-year-old Jay Lelliott surpassed team-mate Thomas Crew
LITTLE Leaders at the Dorchester and Weymouth Martial Arts Network are celebrating the amazing success of five six-year-old students achieving their black grade. Cory Baker, Emma Howes, Jake Hounsome, Ethan Eccles and Jacob Horton reached their black
NETBALL hopefuls were treated to a masterclass from members of the Team Bath squad. Team Bath, who won the Super League title for the fourth time in May, are coached by Jess Garland, who played for England at under-17, 19 and 21 level. Alongside six
DORCHESTER Town Youth reached out to new fans in Uganda thanks to the efforts of Sophie Ramsbottom. The 16-year-old spent several weeks of the summer in East Africa as part of a world challenge expedition. Among a 17-strong party of pupils from Parkstone
SHOPPERS and traders are being handed an early Christmas present after Weymouth and Portland Borough Council agreed to provide free parking during three evenings in December. The free parking begins tomorrow in time for the Weymouth Christmas
A FORMER Girl Guide celebrated the organisation’s centenary year just before her own 100th birthday. Christine Dyson, who lives at Maiden Castle House care home in Dorchester, has been a member of the Guides since 1925 and she is still a member of the
