South Dorset MP Richard Drax has asked HMRC to consider exempting air ambulances from Value Added Tax on fuel. In a House of Commons debate brought by MP Guy Opperman, Drax said that he hoped “common sense” would prevail. Whether or
RADIPOLE Primary School had to hold its annual summer fair indoors this year due to the severe rain. Everyone kept high spirits despite many outdoor activities being cancelled due to the unsuitable weather conditions. Activities at the Weymouth school
THE time has come to vote for Weymouth Carnival Queen 2012. The competition is one of the highlights of the event and it is up to you to choose who wears the crown. Over the years dozens of girls have battled it out to be queen for a day and to represent
THOUSANDS of people cheered for equality, justice and fair pay as they celebrated the Tolpuddle Mart-yrs’ actions 178 years ago. With a strong turnout at the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival despite the rain, the annual event was a fitting tribute to the six
A FORMER soldier collapsed in hospital just minutes after being told he was fit to be discharged, a coroner has heard. The inquest into the death of Gerald Raymond Hallowell, 57, was heard at County Hall in Dorchester. West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston
WEYMOUTH and Portland residents have shown their true colours in a collection of 500 striking deckchairs. The brightly coloured chairs were unveiled on Weymouth Beach. They are now available for hire and replace the stripy deckchairs
WEST DORSET District Council has revealed it has received a number of offers for its existing offices as it prepares to relocate. The authority announced in May that it was putting its offices at Stratton House on the market ahead of its move to new
A CHILD support worker is appealing to Dorset Echo readers to help youngsters whose lives are marred by illness. Every 30 minutes, a child loses a parent to cancer, and countless more lose grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings. Jo Sharkey, who works
A GOOD time was had by all at Puddletown Carnival. A host of activities took place in the run-up to the main carnival day and procession on Saturday including a sponsored walk, bingo and duck race. Peter Casemore, who helped with the
TWO motorcyclists were injured in a crash on the A352 near Owermoigne. Police said a motor scooter and a three-wheeled vehicle were involved in the incident about 2pm near the Texaco garage yesterday afternoon. Two people received injuries which were
THE cost of flood clean-up work at Weymouth’s treasured nature reserves will be more than £100,000, it has been revealed. Wildlife campaigners have launched an appeal to support the RSPB reserves as the cost of the disaster becomes clear. Floodwaters
DORCHESTER Town have released details regarding season tickets for the 2012/13 campaign. All season tickets include entry to pre-season friendlies and Blue Square Bet South matches at the Avenue Stadium. The prices are as follows: Vice-president £250
THE Olympic sailing venue on Portland is seeking a torch from the home Games to display as a ‘long-term loan or donation’. John Tweed, the chief executive of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, is appealing for an inspirational torchbearer
DEDICATION to protecting and promoting the environment has paid off for one West Dorset school. A key part of life for pupils at Cerne Abbas First School is caring for the world they live in – and their adherence to this has won them a top regional award
A rare opportunity to buy sought-after paintings of the late Dorset artist Chris Jonzen – younger brother of the internationally-celebrated painter Basil Jonzen and his famous sculptor wife Karin – will be held at an exhibition of his remaining
THERE are more than 600 pictures of the Olympic Torch Relay to see on the Dorset Echo website. The relay was declared a huge success as it wound its way through the county over the past few days. It began its journey in Shaftesbury on
SCOTTISH-BORN Luke Patience is ‘an excitable wee man’ who cannot wait to move into Team GB accommodation on Portland today for the final Olympic countdown. Patience, who will be representing Great Britain in the men’s 470 dinghy event with best mate
TROOPS have been drafted into Weymouth and Portland to boost Olympic security after the operation run by contractor G4S descended into chaos. The national sailing academy and Olympic village is now being patrolled by the military under full security
COUNCIL leader Mike Goodman has finally apologised publicly for his remarks about Weymouth hoteliers – but it’s ‘too little too late’ say opponents. The Tory chairman of the borough’s management committee said sorry after labelling hoteliers ‘scruffy
POLICE have renewed an appeal for witnesses after a 68-year-old woman was hit by a van in Bridport. Officers said the pedestrian was in Rope Walks, behind Waitrose, when she was involved in a collision with a white van. The local pensioner suffered
Here in the county town of Dorchester it was a joy to see the Union Flags flying from specially installed brackets along High East Street and High West Street in time to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Many local businesses added to the eye-catching
On behalf of the members of Weymouth Division of St. John Ambulance, I would like say a big thank you to the local musicians and the public for the very generous collection made on our Flag Day on Saturday 9th June. We raised £710.39. The musicians
I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on when the real-time bus information boards are actually going to give us ‘real-time’ info. A lot of money has been spent by whoever on replacing bus stop signs and installing fancy electronic signs to give
SAILORS were rescued after their boat started sinking and a teenager trapped in mud was saved in two dramatic coastguard rescues. Portland Coastguard co-ordinated the operations on Saturday. In the first drama, Weymouth mariner Andy Young,
DORCHESTER Town have made their third summer signing -winger Andy Masson. The 21-year-old joins the Magpies from Magna Dorset Premier League runners-up Hamworthy Recreation, for whom he scored 18 goals in 37 appearances last season. And while the latest
WEYMOUTH were forced to postpone Saturday’s clash with Broadstone in the Dorset Premier League due to the ongoing wet weather. The Seasiders had high hopes the game would go ahead following a dry day last Friday but a deluge of rain on the morning of
JAMIE Morgan’s stunning strike was not enough for the Bees as they fell to a 2-1 defeat in their first pre-season friendly at Lymington Town. The talented forward drove home a wonderful equaliser from just outside the box only for the hosts to go on
WILLIAM Fox-Pitt has no doubt who should be lighting the Olympic flame in London later this month. “Personally, I think it should be Mary King,” said eventing’s world number one, who is set to spearhead the British bid for medals at Greenwich Park.
DORCHESTER ABC duo Joe Malpas and Andrius Pacharevas both impressed in front of more than a thousand spectators at the Tournament of the Season in Swindon. Malpas was matched against Bartek Mroszcyk and enjoyed every minute of his maiden bout. Commenting
VERNE Prison officer and Terras’ veteran Mark Robinson invited a Weymouth & District Table Tennis League representative side to the Portland jail for a challenge match and it was the prisoners who came out on top – winning 44-37 – in an enjoyable afternoon
