A MAIN road in Weymouth that has been closed for almost two weeks will open today ahead of schedule – but only partially. The A354 Weymouth Way will reopen at 4pm with a one-way traffic system remaining in place for the next fortnight.
FIGURES out today from the Crown Prosecution Service show that conviction rates for violence against women is up by 3.4 per cent. It is good news for the CPS in a year where domestic violence, rape and sexual offences have increased in Dorset
PRINCE Charles is to check out a new supermarket and plant a tree to commemorate his son’s wedding at Poundbury tomorrow. The Prince of Wales, right, will visit the new Waitrose store in Queen Mother Square on his latest tour of his model development
A PENSIONER is making a heartfelt plea for items of sentimental value to be returned to her. Judith Young, 76, was travelling by train from London Waterloo to Upwey when her suitcase vanished. It contained a partially completed patchwork quilt she
TWO former apprentices who saved their engineering company have acquired a second firm and are set to create more jobs. But Richard Archer and Ben Edwards of Weymouth-based Park Precision Ltd, say they had to make five people redundant last week. The
THE FIRST male volunteer has been busy making a difference at a West Dorset charity supporting families with young children. Dave Beeston from Weymouth has just completed his first four months’ volunteering for the Home-Start West Dorset charity after
MEMBERS of the First Dorset Credit Union are set for a merry Christmas after saving a combined total of over £45,000 in their Christmas Club accounts. Users of the scheme will now be able to request that their Christmas money is loaded onto a First Dorset
AN ESTONIAN man who threw a package containing drugs and mobile phones over the wall of Portland’s Verne Prison has been jailed. Aleksei Kozemjakin, 31, of no fixed address, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court to be sentenced after admitting
ONE half of the loveable puppet duo Sooty and Sweep is going up for sale in Dorchester. A Sooty puppet that was used in the last stage show performed by Matthew Corbett is expected to fetch up to £500 when it goes under the hammer at Duke’s
SHOPPERS are doing their bit for the Echo Christmas Toy Appeal as they bag some bargains. While stocking up on festive fare, customers at Morrisons, Dorchester Road, Weymouth are also donating generously to ensure needy children experience just as must
THE NEW president of the Dorchester and District Chamber of Commerce Matt Pye is encouraged by the work West Dorset District Council has done to support businesses in the town. Mr Pye was elected president earlier this month and will be supported
BUSINESSES are satisfied West Dorset District Council is doing all it can to tackle parking issues raised by the Charles Street development in Dorchester, councillors have been told. However, concerns still remain about the possible impacts
A DEAL has been finalised to sell Loders Motor Group to another automotive company. The deal to sell Loders garages in Dorchester and Yeovil to Heritage Automotive was done late on Wednesday evening. Earlier this week the company confirmed
THE road onto Portland ‘will not’ be closed and residents will not need permits but there will be security measures in place by the Olympic Sailing Village. London 2012 venue transport manager for Weymouth and Portland, Chris Mercer said: “
THE Olympic spirit kept burning as it passed from one school to another on a tractor. St Mary’s Middle School in Puddletown transferred the Olympic Torch to St Mary’s Catholic First School in Dorchester as part of the Dorchester Area Schools
MYTHS were busted when dozens of Portlanders filled a community centre to find out about local preparations for the 2012 Games. The first of three public drop-in sessions taking place across the borough and Dorchester amazed organisers with
TWO cars were involved in a collision on the Weymouth Relief Road this morning. It happened at the park and ride roundabout just before 11am. There are no reported injuries and police said the road was clear at 11.20am.
TRADERS say they fear for their future because shoppers have deserted their businesses. They claim Christmas is ‘not going to happen’ in the Hope Square and harbourside areas of Weymouth because Brewers Quay remains shut for business. Work on the Victorian
DORCHESTER Town have signed Poole Town's Nic Jones after losing fellow gloveman Simon Evans. With the latter returning to Wessex League outfit Hamworthy United, caretaker Phil Simkin confirmed that the Magpies have brought in Jones on non-contract
Entertainment PLANS have been announced for a massive celebration of sport and entertainment during the London 2012 Games. Three iconic open-air locations in the heart of the capital – Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Trafalgar Square –
THE deep purple and poppy red uniforms which will be worn by volunteers at the Olympics in Weymouth and Portland have been unveiled. Volunteers have hailed the uniforms as ‘distinctive and practical.’ The bold Games Maker outfit, created by a London
WHEN the music press describes someone as ‘probably the best and most original young acoustic guitar player and composer in Britain’ and people like Jean-Christophe Novelli and Madonna are booking that same someone for their private parties, something
I FULLY endorse the letter from B Barnes (Your Say, November 18) regarding the roundabout at the Wyke Road/All Saints junction. Some of the problems appear to be attributed to lack of knowledge of the highway code rule that states give way to traffic
THE theft of the safety rails at Newton’s Cove (Echo, November 17) happened months ago. Given that it can be dismantled with a piece of kit you can purchase from any cycle shop, for less than a tenner, the only surprising thing is that there are
THREE digger buckets were stolen by thieves, police said. They were taken from a construction site near the Worgret Manor Hotel, west of Wareham. Police have just released details of the theft which happened overnight last Thursday. PC Craig Tatton
WEYMOUTH’s award-winning donkeys have been snubbed in favour of ‘professional’ ones as a TV show films on the beach. BBC One’s The Magicians will perform an illusion to make a donkey disappear next Wednesday in a show featuring magic man Pete
Saddened though I am, that the former TIC building will not be reverting to its former location, I suppose that toilets for the disabled should be welcomed. I note they are to be “super dooper” loos and at the back of my mind I am wondering: “disabled
The railings on the bridge at Newtons Cove have been missing for months. The council as usual just have not bothered. Charles Baker Easton Portland
There have been quite a few opinions on the policing and behaviour of cyclists expressed in Letters recently. I offer some facts and some awkward questions. Cycling on the Esplanade promenade is prohibited from Lodmoor to the Pavilion and the police
A SAILOR was airlifted off a warship in Weymouth Bay. Coastguards said the female crew member collapsed on board the destroyer HMS York. She was taken off the ship by the coastguard helicopter yesterday and flown to Dorset County Hospital
MORE than seven years after his last visit, Steve Claridge is itching to return to the Avenue Stadium this Saturday. The former Weymouth player-manager experienced mixed emotions on New Year’s Day 2004 as he found the net and saw red in a fiery 2-2 draw
JAMIE Gleeson remains hopeful that whoever is appointed as the Magpies’ new boss will refrain from making wholesale changes. Since Ashley Vickers’ departure last month, Dorchester Town have gone six matches without defeat, keeping four clean sheets in
S&W Dorset Netball League Division One AUTOBITZ 24 WESSEX FALCONS A 26 AUTOBITZ sorely missed their star shooter and player-of-the-year Liz Courtice in this narrow defeat against Wessex Falcons A. Both defences were on
WEYLINE staged a first-half blitz to end Britannia’s unbeaten home record in the Weymouth Sunday Premiership. The islanders fancied their chances against the table-toppers but five goals in 25 minutes all but ended their hopes before half-time. Ben
I AM one of the privileged – and stupid – few who have been “Beefied”. It means a night out – and most of the early hours – of hard drinking with Sir Ian Botham, English cricket’s greatest-ever all-rounder. He is a wine connoisseur of the highest order
MOONFLEET 85 DORCHESTER 75 MOONFLEET sent old rivals Dorchester crashing out of the Denny Cup. Looking to repeat last year’s tremendous run in the competition, Fleet’s home rink of Brian Martindill, Harry Nash, Chris Cook and skip Martin Puckett
ALAN Slaney was “over the moon” with how Bridport ABC’s Autumn Show went off at the Freshwater Holiday Park. A crowd of between 500-600 spectators turned out for the 18-bout card, which also included a special guest appearance from boxing legend Joe
The November draw of the St Andrew’s School 200 club took place in Mrs Shaw's Year 2 class. Ruby Measures drew the £50 prize for Mrs Mel Dive, Alex David helped Mrs Caroline Measures to £30, and Ryley Hazel selected Mrs Jacqui Atkinson for the £15 prize
