Below are the 30 latest news items
Boptober 2025 a great success raising funds for good causes
Boptober 2025 was recently held at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange where three local bands entertained a very enthusiastic audience. Cosmic Dustbin, Vanilla Radio and Hustle helped raise £1051.00 for The Poole and District Children’s Cancer Fund and Keep 106. Local ...
£12.4m ‘transformation’ spend approved by Dorset Council
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Spending of more than £12million has been agreed to transform the way Dorset Council works in the future – largely through the use of technology.
Most of that money will come from the council’s ...
Dorset police fair funding letters ignored by Home Office
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
THREE letters to the Home Office about funding for Dorset Police have remained unanswered – according to the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
David Sidwick has now called on the county’s MPs to request ...
In the Southern Premier League Weymouth who are currently 17th travel to the Black Gold Stadium to play promotion chasing Poole Town, while Dorchester take the road to 11th placed Hanwell Town, the Magpies sit just one position off ...
Greater focus on the possession of drugs called for by Weymouth councillor
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Weymouth councillor Louie O’Leary has called for a greater focus on the possession of drugs.
The Littlemoor and Preston councillor, who says that he has seen too many cases of drug problems in his ...
Teenager attacked and wallet stolen in Dorchester – witness appeal
At around 7.15pm on Sunday 5 October 2025, a teenage boy was walking with a girl on South Walks Road in Dorchester near to the War Memorial when four male suspects approached and punched him in the head. Police ...
EV ‘rip-off’ charges in Dorset Council car parks
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Motorists using electric vehicle charging points in Dorset Council-owned car parks are being ripped off, according to councillors.
Typical fees are ten times the amount an electric vehicle user would pay at home – ...
Dorset Studio School welcomes 400 visitors to record-breaking Open Morning
Dorset Studio School welcomed over 400 parents, prospective students and local businesses to its Open Morning on Saturday, 4th October. The school’s most successful event to date.
Visitors explored the school’s distinctive land-based learning environment, discovering how Dorset Studio School ...
Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance to buy second helicopter
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) has announced exciting plans to expand and enhance its life-saving service, so that it can reach more patients in the future and save more lives than ever before.
As the busiest air ambulance in ...
Campaign launched to restore Dorset’s rivers and wetlands – for wildlife and for people
Dorset Wildlife Trust has launched Water for Wildlife, an urgent campaign to protect and restore Dorset’s rivers, wetlands, and coastal habitats. The campaign highlights the importance of water for both wildlife and people and calls on the public to ...
West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is delighted to report on the huge success of Weymouth Octoberfest 2025 held at Weymouth Pavilion.
Around 900 customers passed through the doors to sample 55 Real Ales and 14 Ciders and Perries.
Out ...
The Princess Royal formally opens the new Dorset Police Headquarters
The Princess Royal visited Dorset Police Headquarters to formally open the new efficient and sustainable flagship building.
Her Royal Highness toured the new three-storey building and memorial garden on Monday 6 October 2025, met local dignitaries and the teams responsible ...
Change requested for former Iceland store in Weymouth
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Changes to a Weymouth town vacant shopfront are being requested by the Globalls company which is due to open in the town centre by the end of the year.
The business will offer ultra-violet ...
Shiver me Timbers, It’s Pirates on Parade in Weymouth
Over the weekend pirates once again descended upon Weymouth providing lots of colour with a significant helping of mischief, music and entertainment for the whole family.
Our reporter Idris Martin snapped a gallery of photos of the parade and you ...
Buckland Ripers residents’ objection to campsite extension rejected by casting vote
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Residents living near the Buckland Ripers Campsite have opposed plans to extend its season by six weeks – but lost their plea on a casting vote.
They told Dorset Council’s area planning committee that ...
FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round Dorset Summery:
Weymouth crashed out of the National competition at their first hurdle losing 2 nil to Wimborne Town at the Wyatt Homes Stadium. Our Man at the Match said:
“The Terras were just unlucky, they ...
Man jailed for leading role in Weymouth drugs conspiracy
A man who played a leading role in a county lines drugs network has been jailed after he failed to appear at court and was tracked down by officers.
Liam Riley, aged 28 and of Liverpool, was one of eight ...
Help get the Hayden Princess Steaming Again
Dorset Museum & Art Gallery has launched a community fundraising appeal to secure the future of one of its most remarkable artefacts – the Hayden Princess, a grand 1901 steam traction engine weighing in at an impressive 11 tonnes. ...
Weymouth seafront monument changes approved
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Changes have been approved to two key Weymouth seafront structures.
A missing sceptre will be returned to the monarch’s hand at the King’s Statue, thought to have been removed 50 years ago, with new ...
Beryl bikes clock up the kilometres across Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland
Since launching in August 2024, Beryl e-bike share riders have taken over 50,000 journeys across Dorchester, Portland and Weymouth, marking a major milestone in Dorset Council’s commitment to sustainable transport.
The bikes can be hired via the Beryl app and picked up ...
Wind and solar power sites proposed in latest Dorset Local Plan
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
VAST swathes of land have been identified as suitable for wind and solar power in the latest Dorset Local Plan proposals.
Sites have also been looked at for possible battery storage facilities.
Dorset Council say ...
The Thimble Inn, Piddlehinton wins prestigious award
In conjunction with the launch of the 2026 Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) bestselling book, ‘The Good Beer Guide’, and national ‘Cask Ale’ week, West Dorset CAMRA are proud to announce that the Thimble Inn, Piddlehinton has won the ...
Weymouth sees significant reductions in crime following night-time patrols
Night-time patrols by officers in Weymouth have seen significant reductions in crime and high praise from members of the public.
Reports of violence and knife crime, as well as violence towards women and girls, have nearly halved this summer compared to ...
Mixed fortunes for our local Non-League Football Teams this weekend. Dorchester crashed out of the FA Cup in the 3rd qualifying round away at Farnham going down by 3 goals to nil and Portland United lost out by a ...
Body found in search for missing Weymouth woman
Police officers searching for a missing Weymouth woman are very sad to update that a body has been found.
Sian, aged 47, was last seen at around 1.30pm on Thursday 25 September 2025 in the area of Bayard Road.
On the ...
DCH maternity services’ rating upgraded to ‘good’
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has upgraded the rating of maternity services at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’ following an inspection.
An inspection was carried out in May to follow up on the progress on improvements ...
Stratton residents show strength of feeling over lack of bus service
A packed meeting in Stratton Village hall on 17th September was attended by some 45 people who showed the strength of feeling there is locally in the village on the lack of a bus service.
The meeting had been organised ...
Book your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations today
NHS Dorset is urging eligible people to book their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations now, or they may be left unprotected against these serious illnesses as winter approaches. Appointments start from 1 October, and booking is open already.
People can book ...
Appeal for information following public order incident in Portland
Dorset Police received a third-party report at around 9am on Wednesday 24 September 2025 that a man was being chased by another man who was in possession of a knife in Barleycroft Road.
There were no reports of anyone sustaining ...
Stop smoking medicines now available in Dorset to help more people quit
People in Dorset who want to quit smoking can now access two new nicotine-free medicines, varenicline and cytisine, which are now available free on prescription from participating GPs and pharmacies providing stop smoking services.
In time for Stoptober, people in ...