BUDDING chef Jessica Holloway has proved she is among the best in the country after taking the runner-up spot in a national cooking challenge. Thomas Hardye School student Jess came second in the Rotary Club's National Young Chef of the Year after reaching
Yeeeeeeehaaa Nearly 100 Wey Valley students took part in their school's biggest school trip to America. The 93 students - all aged between 11 and 17 - and 11 staff visited Washington and New York during an eight-day tour. The trip was organised by
Depression is seen as a very adult problem. In fact, until quite recently many psychiatrists believed children couldn't suffer from the condition because they weren't emotionally mature enough. However, mental health experts now agree childhood depression
It's a little simplistic to accuse Dorchester residents of not caring about the plight of the homeless (A town full of apathy', Echo, May 5). Speaking out for or against The Hub is a bit of a hot potato, so I have my oven gloves on! Who are the homeless
CONSERVATION groups came together in Weymouth to try and solve the mystery of the Dorset's disappearing water vole population. Over 30 Volunteers from the RSPB, Weymouth Sea Life Park, River Wey Society and the Dorset Wildlife Trust met at the Sea Life
MARINE experts have started surveying the seabed in preparation for the new Weymouth Pavilion. Developer Howard Holdings has commissioned experts Fugro Seacore to drill boreholes into the seabed close to the site of the planned £100 million development
A PUB believed to be home to the 200-year-old ghost of a Portuguese sailor has gone into administration. The 19th century Spice Ship at Preston is locked up and has not traded for a week. Three land-written notices on the front, side and back of the
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 today and if
CALLING all would-be carnival queens. Dorchester Round Table is on the hunt for contestants to take part in this year's competition. The carnival queen contest was re-introduced by members of the group last year after a 10-year break. Hairdresser Charlotte
MUMS and their babies have given a top award to a Dorchester café for supporting breastfeeding. Costa Coffee is the latest organisation to receive a Breastfeeding Welcome award from mums who found the coffee shop a friendly and pleasant environment to
THE transfer of the running of Portland Museum to an independent charitable trust has moved a step closer. The museum is currently run by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council but a steering group has been set up to help it become an independently run
Business Link is running a series of workshops across Dorset - including three near Dorchester. Athelhampton House will host marketing, finance and public relations workshops. The idea is to help local businesses get the best advice on how to grow.
BUSINESSES in Dorchester are being urged to go green as part of a new initiative to save energy. Staff at shops and offices in Dorchester town centre will be offered free energy efficient light bulbs and advice about how to save power. The project,
BRIDPORT-based artist Trish Wylie is making a name for herself with her western-themed paintings. Her latest show at Bridport Arts Centre is entitled Gee Gee Fury Cheyenne Bang. Trish explained, "My influences come from some of the famous westerns,
A DARING motorcyclist has tackled everything from mountains to desert in a charity ride to help Dorset's only children's hospice. Adrian Tamone from Chideock near Bridport has ridden across North Africa on his BMW motorbike to raise money for Julia's
YOUNGSTERS enjoyed brewing up potions from the past in Dorchester. They found out how old herbal medicines were used to ward off evil smells and prevent diseases at a family day at Dorset County Museum. The eventrevealed how modern medicine had evolved
UNCERTAINTY over the future of rural post offices across Dorset is crippling local communities, campaigners have warned. An announcement on proposed closures - which could see the county's network of 122 post offices cut to less than 100 - is expected
ROUGH sleepers are making life a misery for traders near a drop-in centre for the homeless in Dorchester. Traders say their businesses are suffering from drunken and offensive behaviour as homeless people congregate at the centre in Great Western Road
EVER fancied ditching the day job and trying your own version of The Good Life? Well, if you have a spare £1 million in the bank you could do it in style at an organic farm on the Dorset coast. Dorset County Council has owned the land for more than
STAFF at Dodge Interiors were celebrating after helping the industry reach a new benchmark. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has approved its selling practice - the Consumer Code of Practice - devised to promote and safeguard consumer interests. Launched
SOLICITORS today warned that anyone caring for a sick, disabled, or elderly relative faced hefty legal bills after changes to the law about powers of attorney. Staff from Battens, which has offices in Dorchester and Weymouth, said that people need to
MORTGAGE borrowers could be facing yet more misery after last week's interest rates hike - another rise could hit before August. The 0.25 per cent rise to 5.5 per cent - the fourth since August 2006 - may not be enough to quell rising inflation, warn
QUEUES lined Pennsylvania Road to make sure of an early entry to Pennsylvania Plant and Craft Fair which is now the biggest open air event of the island's year. In all, 2,000 adults went through the gates in addition to large numbers of accompanied children
IT IS the global phenomenon that burst forth from the epitome of tat. With more than a decade of success beneath its feet, Riverdance continues to entrance audiences across the globe - and it comes to Bournemouth this week. Riverdance started in Dublin
RETIRED Verree Andrews, 73, from Redlands in Weymouth, has been smoking for more than 50 years - and isn't about to stop now because of the ban. She said: "I'm just too old to quit now. I've been pretty lucky but I think young people should really think
Last year a building called the Hub was opened near the west railway station in Dorchester. This was apparently intended as a place where homeless people could have a meal and a wash. As could have been expected, its existence has drawn in many homeless
IT is small and looks fairly harmless, but this little creature and his mates will be wreaking havoc on the health of up to 2,000 British country lovers this year. This is Tick Alert Week, and experts are warning people to cover up and use insect repellent
Marathon man shares some food for thought on training How do you get started as a runner? Former professional footballer and London Marathon competitor Mark Bright has let us in on a few secrets. It is vital that you eat the right stuff if you're going
We all know the benefits of regular exercise, and yet sometimes it's difficult to fit it into our busy lives. One of the easiest ways to get your heart rate racing is to run, and if that's not motivation enough, running is one of the most effective ways
SO you are one of the seven out of 10 smokers who want to kick their habit. While many smokers like to think they could quit whenever they wanted to, the reality is that both nicotine and the habit of smoking itself are so addictive that few succeed
NEARLY 400 drivers were caught speeding on the A35 Tolpuddle bypass - in just four hours. Extra cameras have been focused on the road this week while vital roadworks are carried out. The speed limit has been temporarily cut from 70mph to 40mph. The
FOOTBALL-CRAZY pupils from Dorchester got top results at the David Beckham Academy. The lucky students from Dorchester Middle School were the first in Dorset to be offered a place at the prestigious footballer's camp in Greenwich, London, and achieved
WEYMOUTH player-manager Jason Tindall is confident that he can keep star striker Stuart Beavon at the Wessex Stadium. The Terras' boss has been in regular contact with the 23-year-old front man since the end of the season and he is sure he wants to remain
I think everyone in Dorchester must have known there was a circus in town as there seemed to be posters on almost every lamppost and any spare bit of wall or even two on the BT box at the bottom of West Mills Road! Surely it is not necessary for such
DORCHESTER Town boss Mick Jenkins has welcomed the news of the possible arrival of a new major investor and cannot wait to start building a squad capable of challenging for promotion in Conference South. Jenkins has already made contact with several
RYAN Moss hammered home a fine hat-trick for the Porters as they won 6-3 against the Medics in the annual West Dorset Hospital charity showdown match at the Avenue Stadium. The game raised at least £1,500 for the Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and the
VETERANS' vice-captain Terry Garrett won the Bill Caddy Putter at Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club. Garrett, who also recorded the lowest gross score in Division Two, carded a fine 65 and won by one shot. Competition was very keen and there were five
BRANDON Weeks stole the show for Weymouth Warriors at Exeter in the opening under-10 section of the British Junior League South West Grand Prix. He earned an amazing 16-point maximum in qualifying to secure a place in the A final where he lined up against
COLFOX School student Oscar Tweed is celebrating having been selected to represent Great Britain in the Copa Atlantico Cup held in Portugal in July. The 14-year-old, who trains with the West Dorset Swimming Club in Dorchester, is no novice to international
West Dorset Swimming Club had much to celebrate following an outstanding performance at the Bournemouth Dolphins Open Meet held at Littledown. The Warriors won an impressive haul of eight gold, 11 silver and 16 bronze medals. Fifteen-year-old West Dorset
TORNADOES of South Dorset have proved they are up with the best in the county. The Dorset Sprints Championship saw nearly 1,400 entries for the five-event competition (50m freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke, and 100m individual medley)
