the community news that matters
Following extensive public feedback, Dorset Council has revised its plans to roll out a booking system at six of its Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) and will instead launch the scheme at just four sites including Dorchester, but not Weymouth. ...
Poaching incident near Stratton
Dorset Police are appealing for information having received a report at around 11.50pm on Saturday 28 June 2025 that a group of five people were trespassing on land near Stratton.
It is reported that a fence was cut to gain ...
Figures reveal most road accidents in Dorset happen on the A35
According to figures released today, Dorset Police logged nearly 1,500 car accidents in the past year with most taking place on the A35 road, totalling 141 collisions.
In 2024, Dorset saw a large number of car accidents, many of which ...
Dorchester Football Club have announced the signing of midfielder Tom Smith.
The club’s press release states that the 27-year-old joins the club after spending last season at Taunton Town and, before that, Bath City, where he racked up 260 appearances ...
Man arrested following alleged robbery in Weymouth
Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward as they continue to investigate an alleged robbery in Weymouth – with a man being arrested and charged.
It was reported that at around midday on Thursday 26 June 2025 ...
Rise in non-emergency calls being made to 999
Dorset Police are appealing to the public to only dial the 999 number for genuine emergencies following an influx of non-emergency calls being made.
In the last two weeks, the Force has faced increased demand levels with over 6,000 calls ...
Update – Witnesses to reported serious assault in Weymouth identified
Two potential witnesses to a reported serious assault in Weymouth have now been identified.
Dorset Police received a report at 2.50am on Saturday 14 June 2025 that two men had sustained injuries during a reported incident in Maiden Street.
Detectives have ...
Recent news items
- Public warning: Scam QR code stickers found on parking machines in West Bay
- Police appeal for information following indecency incident in Weymouth
- Renewed CCTV appeal following burglary at Weymouth hotel
- Witness appeal following reported assaults in Weymouth
- Resounding success for Weldmar Hospicecare’s first ever art trail, Stampede by the Sea
- Weekend Sports Report
Delightfully Different, every time
Nick Billings is up with the lark to ease us into a new day
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Is your organisation running an event which the community needs to know about? You can promote a charitable or non-profit event on our popular What’s On page, FREE OF CHARGE, to boost interest.
Below are the next 5 upcoming events. There’s much more in the Local Events Diary…
Thu 3 Jul
Dorset Archives Trust Summer Gala
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: Larmer Tree Gardens, Tollard Royal, Salisbury, SP5 5PYDorset Archives Trust invites you to their Summer Gala, for the talk “Concerning Hardy” by Dr Ruth Burton, at Larmer Tree Gardens, Tollard Royal, by kind permission of the Rushmore estate. Tickets £30 for members of DAT, Thomas Hardy Society and William Barns Society or £35 for non-members. Please book via ticketsource by following web link below. Picnics are permitted. Tickets include strawberries & cream & a glass of fizz.
Contact: Dorset Archives Trust | 01305 250550 | Email | Web | MapFri 4 Jul
Free Community Coffee Morning
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Relationships Wessex, 2 Poundbury Business Centre, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3WAThis Friday is our Pop up Charity Shop and FREE Coffee Morning! Come along to our centre in Poundbury from 10am-12pm for a chat and a drink, and maybe even bag yourself a bargain! Everyone welcome. Find us in between Castle Vets and Casterbridge Dental Studio, just around the corner from Mansell Square.
Contact: Relationships Wessex | 01305 257206 | Email | Web | MapFri 4 Jul to Sat 5 Jul
Dorchester Drama 'Not For Keeps ' Production
7:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Location: The Corn Exchange, High East St, Dorchester, DT1 1HFTickets £14, available from Dorchester Arts. Performances: Friday 7:30 pm, Saturday 2:00 pm matinee and 7:30 pm. The play tells a true life WWII story of Mary who is forced to deal with an agonising choice whilst her husband is away in Borneo. Written by Local playwright, Vince Jones. Audio and more information here: ‘Not for Keeps’ – a local and personal story of adoption, as told by Dorchester Drama
Contact: Dorchester Drama | 01305266926 | Email | Web | MapSat 5 Jul
From Census to School: Did My Ancestor Really Attend School?
Location: Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RP11:00 am. A talk on genealogy & family history by experienced researcher, Val Brenton. The talk will discuss: How the law regarding school attendance changed. What entries on the 19th-20th century census returns might mean. How to identify which school your ancestor may have attended. What records may exist to help you add to your family history. Tickets are £8 for DAT members or £10 for non-members.
Contact: Dorset History Centre | 01305 250550 | Email | Web | MapSat 5 Jul
Dorchester Poverty Action Coffee Morning
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: United Church Dorchester, South Street, Dorchester, DT1 1EERaising money for Dorchester Poverty Action to provide grants to local people living in DT1 and DT2 at points of financial need eg washing machine for family with a member with incontinence, furniture for a care leaver moving into their first home, help for a family escaping domestic abuse. Coffee morning – free entry, coffee and biscuit £2. Stalls – cakes, books, plants, bric-a-brac, raffle etc.
Contact: Dorchester Poverty Action | 01305267098 | Email | Web | MapOn demand, at your convenience
Our special programme on all things countryside and the outdoors: farming, gardening, wildlife and the environment. ‘Countryside Matters’ brings you mostly Dorset topics but further afield, too. So join Jenny Devitt, on Monday evenings for ‘Countryside Matters’ – and ...
Armed Forces Day 2025 commemorated in Dorchester with ceremony at County Hall
Ahead of the national Armed Forces Day on 28th June, a ceremony was held at the Memorial Area outside County Hall in Dorchester on Monday 23rd June. Attending the event were Royal British Legion Standard Bearers, military personnel, including ...
New episode: Children Of WWII, a series of audio plays performed by local school children
Children from local schools have recorded a series of plays in which they play the parts of children during World War 2. The series is a ScreenPLAY production for Nothe Fort, Weymouth, and all credits are given at the ...
We’re turning our attention today, mostly to water, how we should value it more, how we could manage it better, and some of the creatures that depend on it for life, just as we do, of course. So Professor ...
‘Not for Keeps’ – a local and personal story of adoption, as told by Dorchester Drama
Monica Hunt from Dorchester Drama called into the studio and told us about ‘Not for Keeps’ a powerful and personal piece of drama set between the 1940s and 1990s. Mary, whose husband is fighting in Borneo during the Second ...
Two old phone boxes to be transformed into creative hubs
Following her success in winning the Bridport Prize Dorset Award, writer and artist Kim Squirrell told us how she plans to transform two disused phone boxes into writing hubs as part of a creative community project. Kim, accompanied by ...
