THE Topper Winter Regatta took place at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy last weekend. Sunny skies and a brisk wind of 17 knots gave competitors a great sailing experience. The strong winds presented problems for many of the
WEYMOUTH Rowing Club members were on top form during the mini regatta they hosted at Newton’s Cove. The bright, sunny and breezy conditions made for a challenging but fun event, and one which the hosts thrived at. A testing course of approximately
Austin Property Services are delighted to offer for sale this extended family home which benefits from spacious accommodation throughout with an asking Price £199,950 The property has been maintained to a high standard and offers a modern fitted
CORYATES, NR. PORTESHAM DT3 Guide Price £675,000 PRIVATE VIEWING DAY 29TH MARCH 12–2PM - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY - PLEASE CALL TO BOOK A TIME ON 01305 230477. A luxuriously presented detached house with ground floor annex bedroom suite. Incredibly
CORYATES, NR. PORTESHAM DT3 Guide Price £675,000 PRIVATE VIEWING DAY 29TH MARCH 12–2PM - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY - PLEASE CALL TO BOOK A TIME ON 01305 230477. A luxuriously presented detached house with ground floor annex bedroom suite. Incredibly
BUDDING local bands and musicians are being offered the chance to pursue their musical dreams on a national level gaining the attention of promoters and agents through the Electric Palace new music collective Transformer. The Electric Palace is
FOLLOWING the success of previous events, the Lions Club of Bridport will be holding its third Charity Blues Extravaganza on Saturday, March 29, at the Freshwater Entertainment Centre in Burton Bradstock. This feast of entertainment will feature
PEOPLE in Puddletown are set to have more influence on future development in their community. Puddletown Area Group Parish Council has successfully applied to West Dorset District Council to set up a Neighbourhood Plan Area. It marks the first
OLYMPIC windsurfer Bryony Shaw, who won a bronze medal at the women's RS:X class at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, blasts around the idyllic shores of the West Coast of Ireland and shares her thoughts on why she loves windsurfing. The 30-year-old,
A Wareham Christian Aid Lent Lunch will be held at Wareham Quay’s parish hall on April 2.
A big spring beach clean by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) will target beaches at Kimmeridge and Swanage this Sunday. It is part of a national effort to tackle the ‘marine litter crisis.’ For more details see sas.org.uk/events
Argentine tango classes take place on a weekly basis every Tuesday at the Lyric Theatre in Bridport from 7.15pm and all are welcome. For more information or to sign up call 01308 897231.
THE owner of a Dorchester taxi firm has hit out at ‘mindless’ thieves who targeted vehicles used to transport disabled schoolchildren. Engine parts from three specially adapted minibuses were taken from Bob’s Cars garage on the Poundbury West Industrial
COUNCILLORS have agreed to look at future options for a threatened Bridport bus service after considering a petition signed by more than 2,000 people. A petition backed by 2,225 people campaigning to save the No 47 bus from Bridport to Yeovil was
WORK has started on a new £2.3million science block at Kingston Maurward College. The project will see the construction of a new Animal Sciences Centre to further boost its teaching and learning facilities. The scheme will deliver five classrooms
PLANS to create a cycle route across West Dorset have been given a boost. A businessman has started a new Facebook ‘friends’ page for the proposed trailway cycle route between Maiden Newton and Bridport. Julian Brooks is a keen supporter of
A Wareham Christian Aid Lent Lunch will be held at Wareham Quay’s parish hall on April 2.
A big spring beach clean by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) will target beaches at Kimmeridge and Swanage this Sunday. It is part of a national effort to tackle the ‘marine litter crisis.’ For more details see sas.org.uk/events
STEP into spring with a short walks programme by the Dorset Ramblers. The independent club is affiliated to the Ramblers Association and aim to arrange a series of Sunday walks throughout the year in Dorset and neighbouring counties. The walks
Argentine tango classes take place on a weekly basis every Tuesday at the Lyric Theatre from 7.15pm and all are welcome. For more information or to sign up call 01308 897231.
Purbeck District Council has retained its Investors in People Award (IIP) for the third time. Leader of Purbeck District Council, Councillor Gary Suttle, said: “Retaining this award clearly demonstrates the council’s commitment to its staff. “Excellent
A NEW LEVY aims to raise funds from new building development in Purbeck. The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which will be introduced in June, will provide infrastructure to offset the impact of the development. It will apply to most new
HUNDREDS of young people are due to attend an apprenticeship fair tomorrow. The Weymouth College fair will show young people the advantages of apprenticeships and how they can earn while learning. Businesses are also being urged to attend the
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Dorset is hosting a curry lunch on Sunday, March 30 at Bryanstan School from 12.30pm. Non-curry option available. Tickets cost £20 per person. For more information call 01392 492650.
The Thursday Group will welcome a talk by Jan Shaw on ‘Supporting Poor Filipino Children’ at St George’s Church Hall in Fordington at 2.15pm on April 10. Jan has spent time in and around the Philippines sponsored by the Dorcas (Wessex) Trust which
JOURNALIST and former war correspondent Kate Adie has been named as a patron of the Dorset Archives Trust. Kate is a former BBC chief news correspondent and author of several best-selling books, including the recently published Fighting on the
A WEST Dorset sixth-former has taken another step towards sporting success after being selected for the final round of a nationwide recruitment programme. Lauren Harrison, 16, has been selected for the final round of the Olympic recruitment programme
The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust is looking for homemade cakes and produce to sell at the Dorchester Corn Exchange on Saturday in order to fundraise for the charity. If you can help call 01305 215300.
Friends of Burton Bradstock School are holding a jumble sale on Saturday, May 22, at the United Church Hall in East Street, Bridport from 10am to noon. Clothes, toys, books, cakes, bric-a-brac and refreshments will be available at the fundraiser
PRIME Minister David Cameron has spoken directly to the Dorset Echo about new pension changes that come into effect today. More than 49,000 people in Dorset will be able to take advantage of government moves which will give people more control
A Victorian steam locomotive that survived an attack in Dorset by the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War is to star in the Swanage Railway’s first ever Spring Steam Gala – along with four other steam locomotives. London and South Western
A SUPPORT course for people affected by a long-term health condition has been launched in Dorset. The free ‘My Health, My Way’ NHS six-week self-management course is designed to support people to build, maintain and develop their confidence, knowledge
Shipton Gorge Village Society is holding a race night in the village hall on Saturday at 7pm. It is the only event the society is putting on this month and will involve showing 10 races, with betting by individual tote numbered tickets. Places
The Dorset Wildlife Trust are, yet again, carrying out the systematic destruction of habitat on Winfrith Heath. Since they purchased the heath, fenced it off and named it a nature reserve, they now arrive every year at this time with their chain
WHAT DO YOU THINK? LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW It’s amazing that given so many people were baying for the blood of Portland Town Council at that now historic January precept meeting and that now the ‘usual suspects’ are expressing their ‘anger’ at
A SNAPSHOT of garden visitors to Dorset gardens has provided experts with a valuable insight into bird populations. House sparrows, blue tits and blackbirds were the most popular visitors, according to results from the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
A performance of On the Edge! will take place at West Stafford Village Hall on Saturday, April 5 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £9 for adults, £6 for under 18s and £25 for a family of four.
The British Heart Foundation Singles Night will take place on April 15 at the Pavilion. Cost of entrance is £8, with £2 going to the BHF. The event will have a licensed bar and feature ice-breaker party games. For more information call
The Cinema Club’s next screening is Philomena on Thursday, April 3, in the Powerstock Hut. The film starts at 7.30pm.
Tables are still available for the Friends of Lodmoor Country Park table-top sale on Saturday, March 29. The children’s goods sale is at St Aldhelm’s Church Centre from 2pm to 4pm. There is free entry. To book a table, call 07759 609364, 01305
The Friends of St Candida in Whitchurch Canonicorum are organising an evening at Taunton races on April 23. A coach will leave the village at 3.30pm in time to catch the first national hunt race at 5.10pm. Tickets are £5 for friends and £27
A large motor boat with steering failure and three people on board caused concern for coastguards. The crew reported they were in difficulties in rough seas off Portland on Tuesday night. An urgency broadcast was made and another vessel towed
Firefighters helped to rescue a trapped seagull on a roof in the town centre, pictured. A high-rise fire appliance was used in the operation in St Thomas Street yesterday to free the bird, which was stuck in netting. The bird was handed over
The next talk at Weymouth library will be given by Bonnie Sartin of the Yetties and is entitled Corscombe to New Zealand. It will be held on March 29 at 10.30am at the venue in Great George Street, Weymouth.
Dorset schools and colleges are being invited to host a variety of fundraising activities in aid of children’s charity bibic. To support the cause call 01458 252339.
Local author Rachel Bright will be appearing at Waterstone’s this Saturday at 11am to run a storytime session and craft workshop for 3-5 year olds.
Sections of railway line towards Poole and Bournemouth will be closed between April 3-6 for resignalling work. Replacements buses will be laid on between stations. For more details check with National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950 or see nationalrail.co.uk
SIX men thought to be working as slaves have been rescued after a police operation into forced labour and human trafficking in Dorset. Police officers and staff were involved in a raid at a business unit in Ringwood Road, Bournemouth. Six suspected
DORSET Police is one of the top 10 police forces in the country for dealing with domestic violence, a report says. The report, issued by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), assesses the way Dorset Police deals with domestic abuse
PLYMOUTH Argyle loan star Isaac Vassell wants to use his time at the Terras to impress Pilgrims’ boss John Sheridan – and with three goals in as many games he is doing just that. The 20-year-old is keen to help Weymouth finish as high as they can
DORSET teachers walked out of their classrooms in the latest strike over pay and conditions. Many parents had to take a day off work to look after children as thousands of students had an extra day at home due to strike action. Nine schools closed
A WOMAN suffered fatal injuries in a crash after her husband lost control of the caravan they were towing on the A35 near Bridport, an inquest was told. Rosemary Evans from Poole sustained serious head injuries when the Land Rover Discovery she
A DOG had to have a life-saving operation after swallowing a fishing hook embedded in a mackerel on a West Dorset beach. Now, the owner of the dog has called for fishermen to take more care in where they leave their gear and catches in areas populated
JAMIE Gleeson has been left cursing his luck again after being kept out of the Magpies’ trouncing at Eastleigh by a knee injury. He will have treatment on the problem at training tonight and is hopeful the ailment won’t make him miss this weekend
CONCERNS are growing that plans to bring in free school meals for infants across Dorset are being rushed in with not enough funding. Under the Government’s plan every child in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in state-funded schools will receive a
FEWER pieces of rubbish are being picked up on Dorset's beaches - but the tide hasn't yet turned on the blight of marine litter. Results of the Marine Conservation Society's (MCS) annual beach clean out today show the situation appears to be improving
