A FORMER British Airways pilot from West Dorset has denied committing a string of child sex offences. Bartle Frere, 50, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court today, facing charges that include indecent assault on a child and possessing indecent images
A SCHOOL bus carrying children collided with a truck in West Dorset. The accident happened on the A3066 between Melplash and Beaminster at around 3.55pm today. There were no reported injuries but motorists travelling from Beaminster towards
DORCHESTER’S Grove Pre-School Playgroup had a garden makeover during the summer break thanks to a team from the J.P. Morgan ‘Good Works’ Community volunteer programme. Cheryl Graham, Playgroup Co-ordinator said: “The Playgroup garden is well used
PUPILS in Portland got to draw with illustrator Sir Quentin Blake to celebrate fifty whipple-scrumptious years of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The pupils from the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy took part in a special
STUDENTS from 11 primary schools in Weymouth and Portland battled it out to be crowned maths champions. Youngsters tackled different problems from fractions to estimates and equations during the day held at Budmouth College last week. The reigning
BRIDPORT RESERVES 1 SHAFTESBURY TOWN 2 BRIDPORT boss Robin Townsend slammed his side’s fitness and desire after they fell to defeat against Shaftesbury at St Mary’s Field. A Ben Clarke leveller in the second half was not enough for the Bees
BLANDFORD UTD 4 PORTLAND UTD 4 (aet, Portland win 4-2 on pens) PORTLAND United came from behind on three separate occasions before squeezing through to the second round of the Dorset Premier League Cup on penalties. The Blues may have advanced
A SERVICE of welcome was held for the new Superintendent of the Weymouth Circuit of the Methodist Church, the Reverend Jean Quick. The service was held at the Weymouth Bay Methodist Church and was also attended by Dr Revd Andrew Wood, chairman
RESTAURATEURS in Weymouth and Portland are chomping at the bit to take part in the borough’s newest food festival. Feast Weymouth, backed by the Echo and funded by Weymouth Business Improvement District (BID), is a six-week food bonanza involving
A WEYMOUTH road was closed after a car crash outside a care home. The incident happened just after 1pm when a car collided with a stationary car outside Trafalgar Care Home on Dorchester Road. Three cars were involved in the incident, a red
A cancer survivor has thanked the local community for rallying round to help during her treatment. Jacky Ackerman, 50, from Bridport, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of May. She had surgery on June 18 to remove a lump doctors had
A busy Dorchester road was blocked after a three car collision. The incident happened on Cornwall Road, next to the town's Borough Gardens. Two police cars and one ambulance were called to the scene, and a police officer was directing traffic
A LORRY has crashed into a telegraph pole in Weymouth. The incident happened just before 1pm on Wyke Road when the lorry collided with the pole, which resulted in the pole falling onto the road. The road was closed off between the Lanehouse
A new operation has been launched in Purbeck to reduce burglary and vehicle crime offences in the area. Operation Impact will see a dedicated team of officers carry out daily patrols to target crime hot spots, known prolific offenders and issue
CELEBRITY Liz Hurley went from the red carpet to a muddy field as she took delivery of a pair of pigs through Dorset attraction Farmer Palmer’s. The star, best known for her modelling and performances in films such as ‘Austin Powers: International
NEW volunteers have a chance to help take Weymouth Carnival forward. The charity which runs the event, Weymouth Carnival and Event Club, is holding its AGM on Sunday, September 28 where existing committee members will stand down and new officers
RESIDENTS are being assured that microchips in new bins being delivered to homes in west Dorset are not part of a ploy to spy on them. Containers are being dropped off at homes in Weymouth and Portland and parts of west Dorset ready for the new
MAGPIES’ boss Graham Kemp has confirmed to Echosport that midfielder Will Agbo has been released by the club after just two months at the Avenue. The former Yeovil Town man was signed by previous manager Phil Simkin back in July, but has parted
No doubt many residents of Weymouth and district take for granted the fact that every day a tractor trails up and down Weymouth beach collecting primarily seaweed and other debris left around. Some may not even know or care. Either way, its
For many years I have castigated the abysmal state of politics in England. Even locally we have suffered from a lack of democracy. Tory councillors have used the cabinet system to force their will on the rest of us. The Titanic monument to
A PORTLAND charity is celebrating a fantastic year of helping older people. Island Community Action organisers say they have had a great year and 2013 saw them support older people on the island to enjoy 933 meals and provide 392 home visits, offering
MEN at YOI Portland are working with a Dorset charity to produce tables, dolls houses and garden furniture for them to sell. The woodwork students at the Young Offender Institute on Portland will now be providing the bespoke wooden goods to Weldmar
A Weymouth gardener got a surprise when he pulled up a carrot with ten toes. The odd shaped vegetable has one complete carrot and ten ‘toes’ sprouting from it. Gardener Brian Dunning said he thought the carrot looked a bit like one of the Doctor
A MASS gathering in Weymouth has been hailed as a positive step towards reinvigorating the town and engaging with residents. Around 500 people attended the Condor Moment yesterday, organisers said, and had the opportunity to talk to councillors
Back to Netball sessions are taking place at Budmouth Sports Centre on the outdoor courts every Wednesday from 7 – 8pm. For ladies who want to rediscover their skills or learn a new sport, everyone is welcome. Sessions cover all the basics and cost
Take a stroll around Studland and hunt for autumn fruits. The event takes place from 2.30pm on Thursday and anyone wishing to go along should meet by the National Trust Visitor Centre at Knowle Beach.
Maureen Attwooll will give a talk on Dorset shipwrecks. The author will be revealing the secret of the wrecks off Dorset’s coast at an event at the Chesil Beach Centre on Portland Road. It takes place from 7pm on Thursday, October 9.
Crime author Pauline Rowson will give a talk on the inspiration behind her DI Andy Horton series on October 22. It takes place at Weymouth Library from 2.30pm and tickets cost £3.50 or £2.50 for members of Friends of Weymouth Library.
Join Dorset Wildlife Trust for a day of conservation work at Lorton Meadows. The volunteer party will be helping to restore the habitats at the site. Tools, gloves and drinks will be provided and no experience is necessary. It takes place
A NEW choir is meeting up for the first time in Weymouth tonight. The Sea Sound Singers will meet at St Nicholas Church Hall in Buxton Road, Weymouth from 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend and the first session is free. Songs will be performed
SENSUAL and bewitching sounds and stories are coming to Dorchester Arts Centre on Saturday. Najma, pictured right, divulges tales of the heart through song and poetry drawing on both Indian Ghazal and Western Folk traditions. One of world music
THE sunny summer of 2014 has brought a vintage crop of fresh landscape pictures from Dorset painter Colin Willey. Nearly 30 impressive new paintings of the countryside and coast are on show in a new exhibition at Gallery On The Square, Poundbury
A DORSET housing group celebrated its 25th anniversary. More than 80 guests came from different groups including authorities, partnership organisations and funders, to celebrate Magna Housing Group’s anniversary with an evening reception recently
WEYMOUTH RESERVES 3 MERLEY COBHAM SPORTS 4 TERRAS’ boss Jake Richmond had mixed feelings after seeing his side concede two late goals to slip to defeat against Merley at the Bob Lucas Stadium. While Richmond was pleased to see his men respond
CHRIS Pugsley has now been formally announced as the new chairman of Weymouth Football Club. The Terras’ board met tonight to put clarity on the situation, following Nigel Biddlecombe’s announcement to step down via social media late on Friday
A TWO vehicle collision in Dorchester caused traffic delays this morning. A white Peugeot van and black VW car collided at around 7.12am this morning on High East Street in Dorchester between the Holloway Road and Pound Lane junctions. The
DORSET County Hospital is £4.6m in debt, governors were told at a meeting – but hospital bosses say they will be able to pay it back. Deputy director of finance Rebecca King quoted the figure at a council of governors meeting at Dorset County Hospital
COUNCILLORS have slammed the ‘flawed’ ongoing public consultation regarding proposed gypsy and traveller sites near Wyke Regis. Labour Councillors in Weymouth and Portland have criticised West Dorset District Council, which has identified a disused
FAILINGS were highlighted at a Weymouth care home after a 90-year-old man fell and later died, a coroner has ruled. William Edward Armstrong died shortly after falling at Agincourt Care Home in Weymouth on February 18, 2012. Speaking at an
MAGPIES’ chief Graham Kemp was taken aback by the support given to him by the Avenue faithful during their win over Hungerford Town. The new manager was unveiled to the county town fans before his first home game in the hot seat as well as new
WEST Dorset cleaned up at the Dorset Best Village Competition with Martinstown, Loders and Winterbourne Steepleton scooping the top awards. Winners of the Dorset Echo-backed competition, now in its 28th year, were announced at a ceremony this evening
