COUNCIL workers who flout the forthcoming smoking ban face disciplinary action. A new smoke free workplace policy is set to be introduced by Dorset County Council. Members of the council's staffing committee are due to discuss the policy on Tuesday
THE first of an expected 600 cygnets have hatched at Abbotsbury Swannery. Six adorable ugly ducklings were being kept snug under their mother's wings. Deputy swan herd Steve Grove said: "The first cygnets started hatching yesterday and they hatched
THE letter 'Let's leave our countryside as it is' (Echo, May 5) has prompted me to write. A recent Echo article outlined a number of positive ideas to bring much-needed amenities to Crossways to benefit the fast expanding population in this popular
A CLUSTER of farm buildings built by Thomas Hardy's father is up for sale at more than £4.5 million. The buildings, near Hardy's house in Higher Bockhamp-ton, have been converted into 18 luxury holiday homes, sleeping between two and 10 people. And
NEW rules which restrict movements of pigeons in the wake of the bird flu outbreak could spell the death of cross-Channel racing, an expert fancier claimed today. A ban on pigeon racing from outside Britain has been lifted after 18 months - but government
TALENTED Weymouth College masonry students have put their skills to good use by helping to restore parts of a church. They came to the rescue of St John's Church at Greenhill when they noticed deterioration and erosion caused by environmental factors
To celebrate their summer spectacular taking place on Thursday 17 - Friday 18 May, Debenhams have teamed up with the Dorset Echo to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a fantastic prize every day this week. Each day Monday to Friday we have £100
May I direct this letter to the person or persons who decided to help themselves to three stone ornaments from the garden of my 77-year-old, widowed mothers home, in Channel View Road, Portland, last week. The ornaments, a lighthouse made by her late
WEST Dorset MP Oliver Letwin has pledged to investigate ways to keep a threatened library from closing. Puddletown Library is one of 13 across Dorset facing an uncertain future as council leaders try to save massive shortfalls in funding. But campaigners
Abbotsbury Swannery has teamed up with the Dorset Echo to give 20 lucky readers the chance to win a pair of adult passport tickets, which can be used at this time of the year to see baby swans hatching. There is lots for families to enjoy at the Swannery
To celebrate British Sandwich Week (13th-20th May), Subway have teamed up with the Dorset Echo to offer all readers the chance to take part in a fantastic buy one get one free offer. See your Dorset Echo today for details and entry form.
PUPILS, parents and staff got together to celebrate a special anniversary. Dorchester Preparatory School first opened its doors to pupils in 1947. Now, 60 years on, the Icen Way school has marked its diamond jubilee by opening a new garden. A spokesman
DOLPHINS could be wiped out off the Dorset coast unless immediate action is taken, marine experts warned today. The problem was highlighted during this winter's Napoli container ship disaster, when numerous dead dolphins washed up along the county coast
ARCHITECTURE expert Jonathan Glancey has helped launch an initiative promoting a better built environment for future generations. Mr Glancey, an architecture and design critic, joined Dorset delegates at the 'Places for People' conference at Charlton
PEOPLE will have a chance to tell police what's on their minds at a series of events this week. Keen to work together with communities to tackle issues 'on the ground', officers in Weymouth and Dorchester are inviting residents to speak their minds.
DORCHESTER Lions have welcomed their first Lioness. Louise Newman has become the first female member of the club. The marketing co-ordinator for Olds Motor Group has worked closely with Dorchester Lions over the past seven years. Her company has been
THE Dorchester Business Improvement District (Bid) steering group has settled into its new surroundings since being provided with a temporary home by Magna Housing Association. Magna suggested a couple of options for offices before providing the group
VASCO Fernandes, 30, a bar supervisor from Weymouth who has been smoking for 15 years, thinks the ban might help him kick the habit. "I've been thinking of quitting because hardly any of my friends or family smoke," he said. "I will probably carry on
THE House of Dorchester headquarters is not your average factory. The industrial smells are not of grease or chemicals; there are few computer screens blinking away monotonously in the background. For here they forge magical creations from chocolate.
FORMER Weymouth def-ender Tony James does not expect to see an immediate exodus of players follow him out of the Wessex Stadium. But he warns time is running out for the club if they hope to retain the bulk of their squad for next season. The ex-Hereford
WEYMOUTH player-manager Jason Tindall has spoken to former AFC Bournemouth striker Steve Fletcher about a possible move to the Wessex Stadium. The Cherries released the 34-year-old last week but despite registering an interest in the front man's services
Weymouth Rail Station was the platform for a group who are used to being on a stage. This year marks the 150th anniversary of South West Trains and the 60th anniversary of Portland's Royal Manor Theatre Company (RMTC), whose next production, starting
PARLEY 160-9 (7pts) beat WEYMOUTH 159-9 (17pts) by one wicket SEASIDERS' skipper Dean Janaway praised his side for the "fantastic effort" they showed against the odds in this enthralling encounter at Redlands. The hosts lost a vital toss on a wet pitch
STALBRIDGE 170 (23pts) beat BRIDPORT 125 (7pts) by 35 runs BRIDPORT suffered their first defeat of their Dorset Funeral Plan League Division One campaign at a wet and windy Stalbridge. After restricting the hosts to 170, and despite a resilient 49 from
WORKING in a pub, trainee manager Matt Hughes spent most of his days surrounded by second-hand smoke. So he was delighted when bosses at the St Peter's Finger in Lytchett Matravers decided to make the entire pub smoke-free last August. "It makes a better
A DORCHESTER school choir has entered a national competition to appear in the West End. Sunninghill Preparatory School sent a video demonstration of their 20 top singers in to the BBC's Any Dream Will Do, which is searching for a choir for Joseph and
SWANAGE 124-2 (25pts) beat BEAMINSTER 123 (2pts) by eight wickets BEAMINSTER experienced a crushing dose of déjà vu at Days Park. Richard Bugler's men travelled to Swanage for the Dorset Funeral Plan League Division One clash aiming to record their
DEPLETED Bridport closed their Toolstation Western League Divis-ion One campaign with defeat at the hands of Clevedon United. The Bees, who have been struggling with availa- bility during the run-in, took a weakened team to the Somerset club's Hand
BEACH volleyball starts its 25th season on Weymouth Beach tomorrow evening with the return of the regular summer tournaments. The campaign promises to be an exciting one for the seaside resort, who hosted the first-ever beach volleyball competition ever
