Archive

A TEENAGE schoolboy missing from his Bournemouth home for four days has been found safe and well. Paris Wells, a 15-year-old Portchester School pupil who lives in the Littledown area, had been staying with a family friend.

IT is not easy being a teenage mum. The sheer responsibility is enough to overwhelm even the strongest of girls, who are often seen as not much more than children themselves. What they need is a bit of help and support, and to know where to go and get

PROMISING high school swimming star, and all-round Mr Popular, Ben Cronin (Jesse Bradford) looks like he has the world at his feet. He's on course for a scholarship and has an apple pie cutie of a girlfriend in Amy (Shiri Miller). But an ill-advised one

Another pedigree champion sees Banksy looking to put more winnings in the bank. Shock jock Ken goes to a wedding party where frenzied guests pitch stuff over a balcony. Then a plane crashes into the World Trade Centre and, oh dear, Ken's affair with "

Sequel to blockbuster Man and Boy. It's easily readable "Man Shares his Feelings Shock" stuff but all a bit of a retake. Harry, now married to Cyd, is attracted to Kazumi while his ex-wife Gina moves to America with new husband, taking Harry's grossly

Please sir, could I have some more? This Oliver is sure to have a queue of admirers nuzzling at his nosebag with a big TV-backed tome based on his course to train unemployed youngsters to open and run a restaurant. Recipes for fine fodder - and his chargrilled

Forget the literary sluggers, this slugkiller looks the firm favourite as they leave the stalls. August critics have piled manure on affable Alan's tale of how a weedy lad became a mighty gardener. His fans won't mind that as they scrape away the topsoil

1 Murray Walker - My Autobiography 2 Norman Wisdom - My Turn 3 Richard & Judy - The Autobiography 4 Geri Halliwell - Just For The Record 5 Mel B - Catch A Fire 6 Mike Atherton - Opening Up 7 John Simpson - News From No Man's Land 8 Mo Mowlam - Momentum

Bridport 1st XV 10, Martock 3 FOLLOWING six weeks of promising training, Bridport were eager to impress their home supporters after a disappointing season last year. Skipper Tony Dommet, sticking to his "train to play" regime, made some brave and daring

A CAMPAIGN group has been formed in Bridport to oppose Safeway's expansion after a packed public meeting heard details of the store's plans and local fears about their effect on the area. More than 100 people heard area manager Rob Marriot explain the

BROADBAND could be coming to Bridport in the next few months, thanks to Bridport Chamber of Trade. IT company AbbTel Limited, from Portland, said it was extremely pleased to have the chamber's support and was impressed with the level of interest received

SHOPS in Bridport will stay open late on Friday nights in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to survive the loss of business caused by the impending road works on the A35. The move follows a meeting organised by the chamber of trade on Monday night. Traders

MUM Lynn Wilding today called on youngsters to wear proper safety gear for dangerous sports after her cyclist son nearly died in a fall. Thomas Hardye School pupil Scott, 13, suffered a fractured skull and underwent an emergency, three-hour operation

FEARS are growing for the safety of a 45-year-old woman who has gone missing without her medication. Police said Sarah West, who has health problems, has not been seen since 10.15am on Tuesday and believe she could be in Weymouth where she lived before

BUDDING ballet stars enjoyed a double celebration after passing their Royal Academy dancing exams and being awarded trophies by their teacher. This year nine students, including one boy, passed their primary and grade one dancing certificates. Their teacher

CHURCH people from Dorchester are going the extra mile to support a former curate - they're taking a coach trip to attend her first service in London. A party from the town will travel 130 miles to the capital for the Rev Claire Robson's induction at

MANAGER Karon Dobson told today how two men snatched takings from her charity shop in Dorchester town centre. The thieves - one with a chipped tooth and the other with a tattoo on his hand - fled with £200 at closing time from Sue Ryder Care in Trinity

NINE-YEAR-OLD Katie is a very clever tomboy. Anna, seven, is into ballet and fairies and, at four, little Ellie May, with her big brown eyes, is simply a heartbreaker. They're remarkable little girls, but this is no ordinary family. Katie, Anna and Ellie

THOUSANDS of people are expected to visit the replica ship HM Bark Endeavour when she docks in Weymouth Harbour. Between 70 and 80 volunteers have offered to guide members of the public and school parties around the floating museum, and their first training

A PENSIONER crippled in an accident at a New Forest nursing home has been awarded £75,000 damages. Doris Collins, 95, was staying at Ramley House in Ramley Road, Pennington, three years ago when she fell over and fractured her hip. Mrs Collins refused

A new production of Shakespeare's The Taming of The Shrew marks the launch of a new season of plays at Salisbury Playhouse. Probably the most famous play ever written about the battle of the sexes, it finds Petruchio trying to tame the feisty and volatile

CHRISTCHURCH Council has agreed plans to spruce up a historic quarter of the town. The community services committee has agreed that the council should seek a tender for environmental improvements in Millhams Street. Already allocated for the scheme is

GRITTY Cherries star Derek Holmes is vowing to play through the pain barrier despite discovering he needs an operation to cure his persistent groin injury. The 23-year-old targetman was diagnosed with a Gilmore's groin after having a scan at the Poole

TWO very special Bournemouth gardeners were invited to attend the Britain in Bloom awards this week. Wilf Marshall, 87, and John Miles, 80, were asked by the Royal Horticultural Society to attend the special ceremony as a reward for all their hard work

RESIDENTS have threatened to picket a pub in Southbourne if an application for mobile phone antennae goes ahead. Leading campaigner Judith McGinnity says the health of residents in Athelstan Road could be at risk if the antennae are erected on top of

I ONCE had a colleague on a newspaper, let's call him Jim. He was a really nice bloke, as kind as you could wish to meet. But, oh boy, was he methodical. Jim lived in a neat bungalow, the mortgage on which was down to about £7.50 a month or something

IF you go down in the woods today... you might catch a glimpse of pumas or panthers quietly stalking the tranquil Dorset countryside! Disbelievers will scoff at such an unlikely scenario, but there are experts and enthusiasts who believe the idea is a

WHEN left-wing MP Tony Benn finally left Parliament after more than 50 years he famously announced that he was quitting the House of Commons to spend more time with politics. He could hardly have guessed how true these words, suggested by his late wife

The literary thoroughbreds have entered the race in the pre-Christmas bestseller stakes as Marty starts to gallop with his curious follow-up to his hailed Memoir. This one's a rage written to honour Stalin's 20 million or more forgotten victims and question

Viewing figures for England's It Girl's new TV show have raised questions about whether the celebrity cooks are nibbling their petit fours before going out of fashion. I doubt it. This handsome mare could see off the stallions as chancey gamblers are

Now stabled at Fordingbridge with an honorary Bournemouth University degree, Walker could be the runner able to maintain a strong challenge for a grandstand finish with this high-octane account of life in the Formula One commentary box. His famous Murrayisms

RACING fans flocked to Bob Buckler's racing yard in Melplash on Sunday at the first open day he's held for three years. So many came that well over £2,000 was raised for the Injured Jockeys Fund and the air ambulance as people watched the procession of

Dorchester Res 1, Bridport Res 1 BRIDPORT showed a character and team spirit not normally associated with reserve sides in a Dorset Premier League match that was entertaining, hard-fought but never quite reached the heights. Three marginal decisions all

THERE was a full house at Bridport's Royal British Legion Hall for a charity bingo session organised by the daughter of former scrap dealer Brian Richards. Despite an enforced change of venue at the 11th hour, Monday's event was a great success and raised

FARMERS and country sports enthusiasts will be taking part in the mass exodus of people from Dorset on Sunday for the Liberty and Livelihood March in London. Foremost among those going will be the nine coaches organised by the Cattistock Hunt which will

THE husband of missing Weymouth mum Susan Meecham today told of his family's 10 days of anguish. Stewart Meecham spoke to the Dorset Echo of his worry over his wife's disappearance and the heartbreaking effect on their two children, 14-year-old Simon

A COUPLE who got lost in a beach nature reserve had to be pulled out by a cliff rescue team. Mark and Carol Ford from Dorchester were today recovering at home after their ordeal on the cliffs at Ringstead, near Weymouth, yesterday afternoon. They had

SHOPKEEPERS caught a suspected sex attacker in Dorchester town centre after using the town's crime-busting radio link to track him. They cornered him in an alley at the side of Marks & Spencer, between South Street and Trinity Street, after he allegedly

FORMER Tory MP Ian Bruce has stirred up a battle of the sexes by wearing the mayoress's chain while on civic duty. In his role as Mayor's Consort to his wife Coun Hazel Bruce, who is Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Mr Bruce has been seen out and about

TRAFFIC chaos is expected for drivers when repairs to the water mains begin on Weymouth's Dorchester Road. Wessex Water will start replacing the mains next month and the work will involve a major traffic management scheme involving traffic lights and

LIFE is a drag for speed demons from a Dorchester school - they are in the final of a national racing championship. The five-strong team of students have built an environmentally friendly dragster for the Formula Franco Competition at Goodwood in Sussex

IN TODAY'S economy, leisure is the lifeblood of the countryside - but many people fear that unless it is properly managed, it could become poison. Tourism versus tradition, recreation versus rural ecology, is one of the burning issues which protesters

POLICE are appealing for the public's help in finding a vulnerable North Dorset carer who drove her disabled husband to the chemist and didn't return. Sarah West, 45, of Green Close, Sturminster Newton, suffers from ill health and does not have her medication

DORSET Chamber of Commerce & Industry has overcome a "tough, transitional" year and is poised to increase its services to boost membership, its AGM was told. DCCI plans to extend its number of networking events involving local authorities and MEPs

PROPOSALS to revamp parts of a struggling town shopping centre have been unanimously thrown out by councillors. Christchurch planners last night decided that an application to breathe new life into Saxon Square was premature - and could destroy important