A DANCING polar bear was part of a ‘Save the Arctic’ protest at Dorchester ’s Shell petrol station. Around 30 volunteers from Dorchester Greenpeace took part in the show of opposition in order to demand that the company abandons its plans to drill
A MAN who threw a cup of coffee in another man’s face in Weymouth town centre has been made the subject of a community order. Luke Joseph Sibley Hawker, 24, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court to be sentenced after being found guilty of a charge
OPPONENTS of plans for the St Michael’s estate in Bridport are staging a satirical presentation called ‘WDDC: The Opera!’ It will be presented by human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith and the Friends of St Michael’s Trading Estate with special
A PARALYMPIC-inspired film created by Dorchester school children has had its first screening. Pupils from the Prince of Wales School enjoyed the premiere of their creation, Running Blind. The film, which was shown at Dorchester Middle School
A Dorchester man has been told he could face jail after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm. Judge Peter Johnson told Martin Lewis Smith, 29, that ‘all sentencing options, particularly custody, are available’, after the jury returned a guilty
AROUND two hectares of crops were destroyed by a fire in Dorchester . Retained firefighters from Dorchester and Maiden Newton were called to a field behind the cemetery off Poundbury Road shortly before 6pm on Tuesday and spent around half an
A ROCK being eroded by the wind is planning to exact his revenge and steal the winds of Weymouth in a spectacular performance. Set over three-days the epic Battle for the Winds, which starts today, will see hundreds of performers and artists from
“WE ARE your sailing team, please show your support!” That’s the message from the British squad who will be celebrating the start of the home Games with Weymouth and Portland residents tomorrow night. Team leader Stephen Park, who has led the
HIDDEN underwater secrets of the Jurassic Coast will be unlocked to ensure a lasting legacy of the Olympic Sailing events. Environment Minister Lord Taylor paid a visit to Weymouth to launch new technology which will help visitors and residents
CITIZENS of a ‘new nation’ welcomed the land to Weymouth shores with a parade. Hundreds congregated on Furzy Cliff, Bowleaze Cove, to see Nowhereisland being towed across the water. It is a piece of Arctic land taken by artist Alex Hartley
COUNCILLORS have refused retrospective planning permission for lodgings put up to house police officers during the Olympics . But officers will still be allowed to stay there because it will take the length of the Games for official action to be
Dorset Police are urging people to have a safe and secure Olympic games in Weymouth and Portland. Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Whiting, Police Gold Commander for the Olympic security operation in Dorset and chairman of the Local Resilience
FAMILIES flocked to enjoy a day of sun-soaked entertainment at Dorchester ’s award-winning Borough Gardens. The town council organised the event to mark Love Parks Week and crowds packed the gardens to bask in the baking sunshine. There was
FOLLOWING on from the fantastic success of their critically acclaimed 2011 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this year the Wessex Actors’ Company are presenting The Merry Wives of Windsor. They bring this rollicking show to Poundbury Farm
SOUTH Dorset MP Richard Drax has written to the Transport Secretary asking for Portland Coastguard helicopter to be saved after it was called out a record eight times in one day. He is keeping up the pressure after the aircraft was scrambled
EXMOUTH’S Olympian Ben Rhodes will be among the British sailors starring in the Opening Ceremony celebrations on Weymouth Beach tomorrow night. The 31-year-old crewman who sails in the ‘fast and fun’ 49er Skiff class with helm Stevie Morrison is
DORSET is still open for business despite a massive landslide which claimed the life of a young woman and has prompted authorities to close paths and warn bathers off beaches. It has been stressed that holidaymakers should make the most of the
LANDSLIDE victim Charlotte Blackman has been described as a ‘lively, fun-loving woman’ who had a bright future. Tragic Charlotte, 22, who had been visiting Dorset with her boyfriend Matt Carnell and family, was buried under hundreds of tonnes of
DORCHESTER Town are close to announcing the arrival of a new loan ranger. The player in question is seen as an ideal strike partner for Ben Watson and manager Phil Simkin hopes to unveil the mysery man in time for Saturday’s trip to Bideford.
DORSET’S Peter Wilson is aiming for more than just a gold medal at this summer’s Olympics . Among the sharpshooter’s ambitions in London is to create a positive outlook on the sport of shooting, and banish any lingering negative connotations.
A 6-YEAR-OLD boy was airlifted to hospital from Chesil Cove. The Portland Coastguard helicopter and the Portland Bill Coastguard Rescue Team were called to the scene at 7.04pm last night. See Friday’s Echo for the full story.
DORSET 401-4 & 322 (23pts) beat SHROPSHIRE 330-7 & 270 (5pts) by 123 runs COACH Alan Willows hailed as “an amazing feat” Chris Jones’ record-breaking batting exploits during Dorset’s Minor Counties Championship win at Dean Park. Jones
CHAMPION Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby is set to have a new trainer next term as Harry Fry is planning to take out a training licence. Rock On Ruby ran under champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ name last term, although he was prepared by the handler’s
THE Browne brothers led the way for Weymouth Veterans as they overcame their Yeovil counterpart in a charity match at the Bob Lucas Stadium. The Terras won the game 4-3 with Alex and Simon Browne both finding the net for the hosts along with Pete
DORSET are celebrating after reaching the semi-finals of the Walker Cup at Royal Leamington Spa. They booked their ticket to the Mecca of English women’s bowls on August 12 by winning the regional play-offs at Taunton. They beat Worcestershire
Many thanks to those who came along to the Guildhall to support my petition to the council to bring back the Esplanade fairy lights – the public gallery at the Guildhall overflowed. However, I still don’t think the council wants to listen to public
What a missed opportunity and what a let down by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council . I was under the misapprehension that the Olympics were going to be fantastic opportunity to showcase Weymouth as a beautiful seaside town that everyone would
I was a little disappointed to see some negative letters in the Echo and wanted to reply. The Chesil Beach Centre was only officially opened on Saturday 21 and, until then, the toilet facilities were limited to a portable toilet in the carpark.
