RELEGATION is always one of the hardest things to accept as a football fan. Even if the team you support, like the Magpies, having been staring down the barrel for some time, it is the bitterest of pills to swallow when it happens. For Dorchester
CHICKERELL UNITED 5 OKEFORD UNITED 1 CHICKENS’ manager Steve Coward expressed his relief in overcoming rock-bottom Okeford and getting his side back to their title-chasing best at the Stalls. A Steve Welch brace along with strikes for Warren
PORTLAND UNITED 1 WEYMOUTH RESERVES 0 CARL Mutch’s header on 15 minutes sent Portland United to the top of the Dorset Premier League at the expense of their visitors. The Blues are now two points clear at the summit with six games left
TEN-MAN Aura missed out on becoming the first winners of the Dorset Sunday Intermediate Cup following a 3-1 defeat to Pilot FC in the final at the County Ground in Hamworthy. The Weymouth outfit trailed 3-0 at half-time and their chances of mounting
RADSTOCK TOWN 0 BRIDPORT 3 BRIDPORT eased their way to a comfortable victory against 10-man Radstock Town to make it three wins from their last five league outings. Jamie Filkins, Dan Wise and substitute Matt Morley found the net as the
TERRAS’ midfielder Adam Kelly has signed a new deal with the club which will keep him at Bob Lucas Stadium next season. Kelly was on non-contract terms with Weymouth until the end of the current campaign. “I’m delighted to have Adam on board
WEDNESDAY’S Weymouth lunchtime chamber concert was a rare musical treat. The three players Miles Hewitt (horn), Sarah Drury (violin) and Duncan Honeybourne (piano) – all of star quality, formed an unusual combination which worked very well.
PIRATE Gran is taking to the stage this week in Dorchester and Bridport. This Easter, Scamp Theatre is presenting the hilarious story of the seafaring pensioner on April 18 at Dorchester Arts Centre at 3pm and April 19 at the Bridport Arts Centre
LEGENDARY songwriter and producer Graham Dee is performing in Wimborne on Saturday in aid of Record Store Day. He will be performing at Square Records at 3pm. On the same day Dee is releasing his new single Duckin’ n’ Divin’, a limited edition
TOM JOHN COPP, aged 20, of Watton, Bridport. Admitted assault by beating. Discharged conditionally for 18 months and ordered to pay compensation of £50 and costs of £85. Commission of further offence during the operational period of a suspended sentence
DANIEL JOHN ANDREWS, aged 30, of East Farm Cottages, Osmington. Admitted driving a motor vehicle after consuming so much alcohol the proportion in 100 millilitres of breath was 69 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres
A DORSET legal firm is urging employers to ensure they are up to speed with a shake-up of workplace laws that have come into force from this month. Battens Solicitors, who have offices in Weymouth and Dorchester, is highlighting changes to the
A PORTLAND-based business has revealed plans for expansion as it announces record turnover and production. Sea-NC, based at the Southwell Business Park on the island, announced the plans to create up to five new jobs as the company celebrates its
NATHAN RICHARD BEALING, aged 19, of Half Acres, Sherborne. Admitted sending an offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message by public communication network. Made subject to community order with requirement to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.
LEON BILLINGTON, aged 60, of no fixed abode. Admitted stealing two bottles of cider and a pasty to the value of £3.99 from a store in Wool. Fined £50. Ordered to be detained in courthouse. Detention deemed served by reason of time spent in custody.
DEBORAH ROSALYN WOOD, aged 31, of Killicks Hill. Admitted failing to promptly notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances which would affect entitlement to Income Support. Discharged conditionally for 12 months and ordered
A LITTLE bear with a big past is going on display in Dorchester this Easter. ‘Wee One’ started life 84 years ago in Australia and was sent to England in 1942 by either the Red Cross W.V.S. He has been ‘much-loved’ by his owner, Ann, for the
A TOWN councillor has repeated his calls for dog owners in Dorchester to clean up their act. Cllr David Taylor has been campaigning for pet owners in the town to clear up after their animals after repeatedly being contacted by concerned residents
VIKINGS and ballet will feature on the big screen at Brewery Square this month. The Odeon cinema is offering cinemagoers the chance to view a guided live tour of the British Museum’s new Vikings: Life and Legend exhibition on Thursday, April 24
A lecture on Thomas Hardy will be given at Dorset County Museum. It will be delivered by the Hardy/Whistler and Monet-Impressions and Arguments group, and will start at 9pm on Thursday, April 24.
The street entertainer The Mad Hatter will perform in Weymouth on Saturday at 11am in St Mary Street, at the crossing with St Alban Street.
WEYMOUTH: An arts and craft event will be held at the Riviera Hotel, Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth on Sunday. The event will showcase an array of different arts and crafts created by local people. There will also be collectable items on display
The Weymouth Easter Hockey Festival will return to the town next week. It will start on Easter Sunday, with matches played throughout the week until Friday 24, when the finals will be played. Teams from around the country will attend, with
DORCHESTER runners who went through the pain barrier for charity are recovering from their London Marathon efforts. Fundraisers from the county town were among the 36,000 runners who took on the 26-mile course in the capital. They picked up
A sunrise service will be held as part of the Easter celebrations in Weymouth at 6.30am on Sunday near the Jubilee Clock Tower on the seafront.
C&C group is holding a Crafts and Chatter morning on April 24 from 10.30am to 12.30pm at 14 Wareham Road, Owermoigne. It is in support of the Linus Project. Additional information about the project will be on display along with a raffle and
The park and ride is now working seven days for the summer period. The Weymouth Monday to Friday service will run from 7.30am to 6.15pm; on Saturday it will run from 8am to 6.15pm; and on Sunday the operation hours will be 9am to 5.45pm or 6.15pm
IF SCHOOL has been out for you for a long time you can revive memories of those golden rule days at a school dinner party at Community 2000 on Portland on April 28. The school bell will ring at noon for the start of a dinner of shepherd’s pie with
STUDENTS have been awarded for their outstanding commitment to cycling. The Wey Valley School will become the first school in Dorset to be awarded charity Sustrans’ Silver School Mark Award next week. The award recognises the school, students
A NEW alerting system has been installed at Weymouth lifeboat station. Following successful trials around the coast, an alerting siren has been positioned on the inshore lifeboat boathouse. Since losing the maroons, which were traditionally
A cycle safety advice session will take place at Debenhams in Weymouth on Thursday between 11am and 3pm. Attendees will also receive a free bell to go on their bikes.
St Mary’s Church in Weymouth will hold three Easter services over the bank holiday weekend. On April 18, a Reflection for Good Friday will be held from 10am. On Easter Sunday there will be a Communion Service held from 10am.
STUDENTS have been awarded for their outstanding commitment to cycling. The Wey Valley School will become the first school in Dorset to be awarded charity Sustrans’ Silver School Mark Award next week. The award recognises the school, students
DORSET County Council has announced a new eight-point criteria for on-street parking in its towns. The council was forced into a rethink of its proposal to introduce a pay-and-display parking scheme after objections were made by a number of town
Take a walk on the wild side at a bluebell wood. The national trust property at Kingston Lacey is bursting with spring colour this Easter. For information email kingstonlacy@nationaltrust. org.uk or call 01202 883402.
Police are urging motorists to remove all valuables from unattended vehicles after items such as glasses and clothing have been targeted across West Dorset in recent weeks. They are asking members of the public to remain vigilant and report anything
A DOG chasing the postman may be a classic cartoon image – but for Dorset’s Royal Mail workers, it’s no laughing matter. One postman had to take 25 days off work to recover from an incident, the Echo can reveal. The most dangerous area for
DISABLED people are being urged to remember that applying for a blue parking badge is free. The British Parking Association is concerned that some websites are charging around £50 to process applications. The Blue Badge is available to qualifying
FAMILY and friends of a Weymouth dad who collapsed and died at a New Year’s Eve party have helped raise around £2,000 for charity. A family fun day was held on Saturday in memory of Jonathan Clark, known as Joffy, who died aged 27. Joffy, who
DORCHESTER’S sixth community play has been declared a triumph. The county town production of Drummer Hodge has received glowing feedback and writer and director Rupert Creed has heaped praise on all those who took part. The adaptation of a
DORCHESTER’S Brewery Square is bracing itself for an Easter extravaganza with some horse play this weekend. A special ceremony will see the bronze dray horse statue arrive in style at the former brewery site. The life-and-a-quarter size statue
A COMMEMORATION service to mark Anzac Memorial Day will take place on Weymouth seafront next Friday. The wreath-laying commemorates the thousands of Australian and New Zealand volunteer servicemen who passed through camps and hospitals in Dorset
BUDDING sailors have been visited by two Olympic silver medallists from Team GB at the RYA Youth National Championships. Hannah Mills and Nick Dempsey both won silver on the waters of Weymouth and Portland in the 2012 Olympics and returned to the
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service has warned walkers to take extra care when going through heathland. The warning comes after a large heath fire in Poole, when two engines and one Land Rover were needed to tackle the blaze.
An art week is being held at St John’s Church, Portland, from Monday May 5 to Saturday May 10. Art and crafts, ranging from homemade cards to jewellery will be on sale. Products will be on sale Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm. On
Leonard Cheshire Disability is looking for volunteers for its Cheshire Box charity shop in Dorchester. The store supports adults with learning disabilities who live in homes managed by Dorset Learning Disability Services, part of Leonard Cheshire
Homeowners are asked to ‘give nature a home’ in gardens across Dorset. The RSPB is asking people to provide a space for animals, birds and insects in gardens and outside spaces, whether planting pollen-rich plants or installing nest boxes.
DORSET Fire and Rescue Service has issued a countywide warning after a microwaveable wheat bag exploded, causing a fire. Microwaving wheat bags and then placing them on muscular injuries is becoming increasingly popular, but many people are putting
Softball coaching sessions will be held every Monday from April 21 at Dorchester’s Great Field from 6pm to 8pm and every Wednesday from April 23 from 6pm to 8pm at the Marsh playing fields, Weymouth. For more details call 01305 871925 or email
An Easter egg hunt being organised by the Isle of Portland Riding Club will now be open to cyclists. The event takes place on Saturday from 2pm in the field at the top of Sweet Hill Road. Entry costs £15 per pair and forms can be downloaded
Motorists were urged to drive with caution when the traffic lights at the junction of London Road and Kings Road, Dorchester, broke yesterday afternoon. Engineers attended and repaired the fault.
A HEARTFELT tribute has been paid to an ‘icon of Dorchester’. Paetra Withnall has spoken of her happy memories of her ‘soulmate’ and partner of ten years Ron McDiarmid, who was known to countless county town residents as ‘Ron the doughnut man’.
I would just like to say why I think the libdems are neither honest or democratic. On the recent Clegg/Farage debate on the EU Nick Clegg said we will get a vote on the EU when another treaty taking more powers from us is on the table. The
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council want to privatise part of Greenhill Gardens by selling Greenhill Gardens chalets, Esplanade chalets, Greenhill Play Gardens and chalets as well as Pebbles café, the tennis courts, putting green and public toilets
Police are urging dog owners not to leave their pets unattended in cars at this time of year. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise by almost 30F in 20 minutes, officers have warned.
A MAN has appeared at Dorchester Crown Court in connection with an alleged aggravated burglary in Lyme Regis. Emergency services were alerted to an incident in South Avenue early on the morning of Saturday, April 5. Marcus Coutain, of Greenway
A remembrance service is being held at Harbour View Woodland Burial Ground, Lytchett Minster, on Easter Sunday. It will start at 10.30am, and the free service is open to anyone who wants to remember a loved one. Light refreshments will be available
Rail passengers travelling on the Weymouth to London Waterloo line faced disruption due to electrical supply problems yesterday afternoon. Buses replaced trains between Bournemouth and Brockenhurst due to a fault at Pokesdown. Services were
Motorwell in East Road has an open day on Saturday from 9am to 5pm in aid of Julia’s House. The Fiat and Mitsubishi dealer will donate £100 to the Dorset children’s hospice for every car sold. The day includes refreshments and a raffle.
A community arts project is being run at Tides in Weymouth. Sessions will be held at the centre in Newstead Road on Saturday, April 26, Tuesday, April 29, Wednesday, April 30 and Thursday, May 1. To find out more about getting involved, contact
Dorset Police have launched an app for iPhone and Android smart phones to help victims of hate crime. The app helps the most vulnerable members of society understand how to deal with the traumatic effect of such crimes, why it happens, how to report
A WEST Dorset man has admitted two assault charges against a former partner. James Jonathan Fenton, aged 37, initially denied two charges of assault by beating and an offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. After his trial began
NHS Dorset is asking people to collect prescriptions early, and to ask for a repeat prescription from the GP at least a week before they run out to ease pressure on local services this Easter. Opening times of health services, including hospitals
Residents are urged to safeguard their homes against burglary this Easter. Dorset Police are asking homeowners to follow simple steps as part of its Operation Castle campaign, which saw 138 arrests at Christmas. Residents should contact Dorset
The police helicopter was scrambled after residents reported gun shots in Alton Pancras. Dorset Police were alerted at 9.30pm on Monday. Officers attended and found that the shots were part of a legitimate shooting on private land.
ADVENTURER Ben Fogle described Dorset as his ‘secret little getaway’ while filming near Weymouth. Ben was in the area yesterday filming the second series of ITV’s Har-bour Lives. And in between shoots he caught up with all the local news with
Watch amazing black and white and colour footage of Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland. British Pathe News has released their entire catalogue of footage on to You Tube. History enthusiasts can now browse thousands of hours of footage from the
Coastguards helped walkers, stricken boats and retrieved unidentified objects from the beach. Yesterday morning the Bayliner Old Rocker with two people on board became entangled on a Mussel Farm Buoy in Portland Harbour after suffering engine failure
THERE will be plenty of fun at this year’s Wey-mouth Kite Festival – even for those who are not fans of kites. That’s the message from Kite Community Group director Michael McManus, who’s organising the event for the first time. The Community
LESS than a year after a record-breaking league season, the Magpies last night lost their status as a Conference South club – but boss Phil Simkin insists his players have not failed anyone. A 2-0 loss at home to Hayes & Yeading United finally
A PETITION has been created calling on First Bus to stop a ‘catastrophe.’ The company plans to cut down the number of Number 31 buses through Martinstown and Winterbourne Steepleton Jon Walker, 52, who lives in Martinstown and started the petition,
JASON Matthews labelled Weymouth’s wasteful 1-0 home defeat to Banbury as “terrible” as his side spurned countless opportunities to find the net against the Puritans last night. “I felt it was a terrible performance,” the player-manager told Echosport
CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating victory as white lines have finally been reinstated on a notorious stretch of road. Residents have been lobbying for more than four years to have the lines repainted in the middle of the B3157 coast road between Weymouth
A WEYMOUTH motocross rider is all revved up after getting his world record confirmation. Paul Oughton, from Chickerell, is now officially a Guinness World Record holder for the greatest distance covered on a motocross bike in 24 hours. Paul took
