HOMELESS people in Bournemouth will receive some festive cheer thanks to the hard work of two New Forest councillors. Ringwood Mayor Cllr Danny Cracknell and his town and district council colleague Cllr Michael Thierry have been busy collecting boxes
A LEADING Dorset heart specialist has backed calls for a new body to regulate the tobacco industry in the United Kingdom. A report released this week by the Royal College of Physicians points out that tobacco and nicotine products kill 120,000 people
RESIDENTS' accusations of bullying and intimidation led to East Dorset planners refusing plans to develop green belt land in Corfe Mullen. Members of the planning committee unanimously turned down the application by Alan Perry to build a house and annexe
WESSEX Water today defended its controversial watermain repair work on Dorchester Road in Weymouth, saying another major burst could leave the town without water for a week. The firm has been heavily criticised for its scheme to replace a 70-year-old
FOLLOWING their success in 2000 with The Nutcracker and last year with Cinderella, Ballet Creations returns to the Regent Centre on Wednesday (Dec 18) with a sumptuous production of Delibes' delightful ballet, Coppelia. The crazy old toymaker, Dr Coppelius
DORSET County Council was named as one of the best authorities in the country with an 'excellent' rating in new rankings. The Dorchester-based authority scored top marks in the first-ever Audit Commission assessment of all county councils and unitary
POP fans Adrian and Marrianne Strong are to meet Fame Academy starlet Katie Lewis at their Dorchester home. The couple, of Stowcastle Street, Poundbury, won permission to set up a fan club and website for Katie after seeing her on the TV show. Now they
A NEW device is being used by parking attendants across the county to protect them from aggravated drivers. Until July this year the police were responsible for enforcing parking regulations, but in a bid to free up police time the Government has passed
A PLAN to revamp Dorchester's Old Crown Court and create an attraction to pull in thousands more visitors each year could get the go-ahead next week. The court, in which the Tolpuddle Martyrs were sentenced to extradition after forming the first trade
CHRISTMAS will be made a little better for needy children in the area thanks to staff at Sharky's Play Zone in Weymouth. The town's play area is backing our appeal once again and staff are urging people to be as generous as possible to make Christmas
PLANS to refurbish the Pavilion could cost £30 million but leave Bournemouth with a venue that could not rival the Winter Gardens, it has been alleged. Liberal Democrat Cllr Ken Mantock made the claim as councillors considered a bid for cash to revamp
CLAIMS that High Street stores may be forced to bring their January sales forward in a desperate bid to boost flagging festive trade have been branded "ridiculous" by a Bournemouth shop manager. Dale Wilkinson, who is in charge at Next in Old Christchurch
AIR wars over Bournemouth have claimed their first casualty before a single plane has taken off, and travellers will be the ultimate victors. Low-cost airline Buzz has run up the white flag and scrapped one of its much-trumpeted new routes after rival
A POPULAR beauty spot in East Dorset infamous locally for its vivid name has been declared a nature reserve. Slop Bog at Ferndown has been given the protected status by Dorset County Council because of its richness and diversity of wildlife. The area
A Dorset soldier who died after a car crash has given life to five others through donating his organs. Lance Corporal Matthew Hughes, a member of the Devon and Dorset Regiment, died in hospital in Glasgow last Saturday surrounded by his family and fiance
PRISON staff have branded plans to give out Christmas presents to convicts' children as "sick" and "unnecessary". Members of the Prison Officers Association (POA) are angry that children of prisoners at the Weare will receive gifts worth £4 each during
BRITAIN'S earliest ever diagnosed case of the highly infectious disease tuberculosis has been found in a rare skeleton from an Iron Age grave at Tarrant Hinton near Blandford. Scientists from English Heritage and Imperial College, London, examined the
THE chairman of Dorchester Prison's Board of Visitors has slammed the system for failing inmates - saying that 80 per cent of prisoners at the jail reoffend after they finish their sentences. Peter Gregson says that the number of 'revolving-door' prisoners
COUNCIL chiefs have warned the borough's Christmas trees could be left without lights after a spate of vandalism. The festive spirit could be dampened if decorations on the two trees in Weymouth and Portland have to be removed permanently because yobs
WESSEX Water today detailed why disruptive work to replace an old water main under Dorchester Road is vital to Weymouth's future. Divisional manager David Elliott said the new main was crucial to ensuring future water supplies for the town. He added:
MONEY has poured in after the widow of a popular Dorchester taxi driver set up a fund in memory of her husband. Cash totalling nearly £1,900 flooded in after Sam Atwood died at the age of 59 from deep vein thrombosis after a long journey in his cab without
CHILDREN from six Dorset schools are waiting to hear if their art will make it to London's National Gallery. Pupils at first schools Bovington, Bere Regis, West Lulworth, Winfrith, Wool and St Mary's in Wool created sculptures and pictures based around
A UNIQUE arts educational project is now back on the road celebrating its fifth Christmas season. (Dec 19) Known as TOPS - the Theatre Opportunities Project - it offers learning-disabled people the chance to achieve their potential and excel in the arts
FOLLOWING their success in 2000 with The Nutcracker and last year with Cinderella, Ballet Creations returns to the Regent Centre on Wednesday (Dec 18) with a sumptuous production of Delibes' delightful ballet, Coppelia. The crazy old toymaker, Dr Coppelius
CHERRIES boss Sean O'Driscoll admits he faces a "difficult decision" over whether Gareth Stewart or Chris Tardif should replace Neil Moss. O'Driscoll's goalkeeping dilemma was heightened after Cherries were held to a 1-1 draw in the second round of the
