News Archive

Fish ‘n’ Fritz, Weymouth have been awarded two more awards to add to their collection. They have been named one of the UK’s 10 Best Fish & Chip Restaurants and were also announced as one of the UK’s 50 Best Fish & Chip Takeaways 2021/2022 at the same time. Fish ‘n’ Fritz are the only chippy ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is looking for new on-call firefighters in Maiden Newton. The fire station has opportunities for anyone who could provide availability during the week and/or at weekends, with flexible contracts on offer for those who work shift systems or have childcare responsibilities. On-call firefighters live and/or work within the local community ...

KeeP 106 will be in attendance at a ceremony on Monday 14 March when Dorset Council’s Chairman, Councillor Val Pothecary will read out the Commonwealth Affirmation and the Commonwealth Flag will be raised and flown from the roof of County Hall, Dorchester. Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration observed by people all over the Commonwealth in ...

The Jurassic Tennis Ladder, now in it’s fourth year, will commence on 1st April 2022. The ladder has gone from strength to strength and, despite Covid restrictions last year, still managed to see over 140 matches played. Last year’s winner was Matt Barrett (Pictured left), from Dorchester, will return from University later in the summer to defend ...

Following the success of a fun-filled day in February for Dorset’s fostering community, Dorset Council’s Youth Voice team, alongside the Virtual School and Fostering team, will be planning more of these whole-family events throughout the year to make sure there is something for everyone to take part in. The recent event took place during half term ...

Three beaches around Weymouth are amongst those earmarked for The Great Dorset Beach Clean which is back for 2022 taking place over the week of 2nd – 10th April. Coinciding with the first weekend of the Easter school holiday, Litter Free Dorset are excited to announce this 32nd annual Great Dorset Beach Clean event. This year ...

On Sunday 6th March over 100 people from churches across Dorchester gathered at the War Memorial at 3pm and joined in prayer for Ukraine. The gathering was organised by Churches Together. Whilst, in Weymouth, the Town Council asked the community to come together for a period of reflection. Around 100 folk attended the gathering at the ...

Officers investigating an incident where a teenage boy was reportedly bitten by a dog in Weymouth have identified the owner of the animal involved. It was reported that at around 8.30am on Monday 31 January 2022 the victim – a teenage boy – was walking through a tunnel at the end of Carisbrooke and when he ...

Officers investigating two incidents of indecent exposure in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. The first incident occurred between 10.55pm and 11pm on Tuesday 1 March 2022 in Poundbury Crescent. It is reported that a man was seen performing an indecent act in the area. The second incident occurred between around ...

A crew from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue were called to a domestic property in Poundbury, on Saturday. The crew were sent to Peverell Avenue East, at 10.49AM, to reports of falling masonry. The crew made safe the loose masonry that was falling onto the adjacent footpath and were able to clear from the scene shortly ...

A park bench in Poundbury had been targeted by vandals, leaving it covered in silver paint. Memorial plaques, which are also attached to the bench, have been defaced too. The bench, situated on the Great Field, was discovered covered in the paint on Friday the 4th of March. One Poundbury resident, who discovered the vandalism, said on ...

Thanks to generous donations from residents in Dorset, over £75K have been raised to help older people struggling to stay warm this winter. Dorset Council, working closely with The Dorset Community Foundation and Citizens Advice launched an appeal earlier this year asking people to donate any winter fuel payments they did not need to help others ...

A man has been jailed after admitting causing a collision in Bovington that left his two passengers with serious injuries. Thomas George McConnell, aged 28 and of Water Lane, Winfrith Newburgh, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to 20 months in prison on Friday 18 February 2022 after admitting two charges of causing serious injury by ...

West Dorset MP Chris Loder met with Ukrainian Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko on Wednesday 2nd March in Parliament to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and efforts taken by the people of West Dorset to provide help and support to both those currently in Ukraine, and Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict. Among these efforts was that of ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward after a criminal damage incident near Dorchester. At 9.40pm on Friday 25 February 2022 the victim returned to find that damage had been caused to the front door of a property in the area of the A352 near to St Martin’s Church in Broadmayne. It ...

Plans for a once-in-a generation redevelopment of Dorset County Hospital’s (DCH) site, including a new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit building, can now be viewed online. DCH has been earmarked £77.3m of Government funding to build a new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, which would link to the existing hospital, plus create an Integrated ...

Officers have taken part in dedicated days of action to tackle catalytic converter thefts in Dorset. As part of a national week of action, neighbourhood policing teams in the county were involved in a range of activity to raise awareness and crackdown on offenders between Thursday 10 February and Wednesday 16 February 2022. The initiative saw officers ...

Following the recent storms, and reports of power outages both locally and across the country, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has a vital reminder for the owners and managers of care homes and other residential buildings. During a loss of power, automatic fire detection and alarm systems can stop working and, even if there ...

A South Western Ambulance service (SWASFT) vehicle was defaced in Bridport over the weekend. A crew arriving on shift found abusive graffiti along the side and rear of the vehicle. The Service has said: “This anti-social behaviour is #unacceptable, and rectifying the damage puts an unnecessary burden on NHS resourcing at a time when it is ...

Pupils from the Dorset Studio School near Dorchester got their hands dirty recently helping staff from Dorchester Town Council to plant some of the 71 large standard trees in the second years planting scheme at Kings Road open space, part of an initiative to create a community woodland. The year 9 students were thanked for their ...

The Dorchester Trust for Counselling and Psychotherapy (DTCP) was set up in 2005 by Dr Mary Lister Ashby to provide local people with low-cost counselling. Since then, the charity has supported hundreds of people living in Dorchester and the surrounding areas who may not have otherwise been able to access support. DTCP’s free counselling for key ...

Building on the success of the last event in 2019, the Family Science Fair will be taking place at the Dorset Museum on the 13 March from 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm. This free (but ticketed) activity is sure to bring out the Marie Curie or the Isaac Newton in you! Entrance this year is strictly by ticket ...

SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks) have now restored power to all homes known to be impacted by Storm Eunice, which caused the equivalent of six months of overhead line faults on their network in just a single day. Since the storm battered the south coast with record wind gusts on Friday (18Feb 2022), SSEN responded ...

The first ever escape room has opened in Dorchester. The immersive family-friendly attraction has seen a wealth of enthusiasm from local residents, with a steady flow of bookings coming in from eager visitors. The Great Big Escape is located next to Phase Eight, in the centre of Brewery Square. Charlotte Spracklen, Centre Manager at Brewery Square, ...

It is estimated that over 11% of Dorset’s population are unpaid carers. They may be looking after their partner or spouse, a relative, a friend or a neighbour. The person they care for could have a physical or mental health problem or have substance misuse issues. In a bid to make more organisations across Dorset aware ...

There are only two weeks to go to the second Dorchester Window Wanderland, which will run from Friday, 4th March to Sunday 6th March . On these three evenings (from 6pm-9pm), local residents will be able to enjoy an outdoor trail of decorated windows. People will be able plan their walk around the windows using ...

Dorset Council has launched a new round of grants to support social, voluntary and community sector organisations. The Organisational Support Revenue Fund (OSRF) will provide core revenue support to local community organisations that address the needs of disadvantaged, under served and marginalized communities in Dorset. Social, voluntary and community sector organisations that support the needs of vulnerable ...

As Storm Eunice moves away from the area, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is thanking residents who heeded the plea to not call 999 for general storm damage. Between 8am and 5.30pm on Friday (18 Feb), over 300 emergency calls were received by Fire Control, with many reporting fallen trees, fallen power cables and ...

The latest report from Public Health Dorset says that we have continued to see a fall in confirmed case rates in the Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council areas over the past week. There have been changes to testing behaviour in recent weeks due to policy changes so we continue to use a range ...

Starting with a special ‘Early Breakfast’ programme from 6am, KeeP 106 kept listeners up to date throughout the day about the effects of Storm Eunice which had a significant impact across Dorset. Amongst many roads which were blocked by fallen trees were the A37 at Grimstone, the A352 at at Broadmayne, Bridport Rd Dorchester, Redbridge Rd ...

Five men are due to appear in court in connection with a reported public order incident in Weymouth. At around 7.45pm on Sunday 4 April 2021 Dorset Police received a report of a fight involving a group of people the area of Custom House Quay. Officers attended and a group of four men aged in their 20s ...

A Flood Warning has been issued by the Environment Agency for the Dorset coast at Preston Beach and Portland Harbour at Ferry Bridge. Flooding is expected for The Sea Life Centre and the Preston Beach Road area of Lodmoor. Chesil Bank and The Fleet Nature Reserve and Ferry Bridge Marine Services, Portland Beach Road. Storm Eunice is ...

Storm Eunice is expected to hit Dorset this evening and into tomorrow (18th February). Dorset Council has made the difficult decision to advise schools to close and has suspended many services on Friday as 100mph winds are predicted to hit the county from Thursday night into Friday morning and through to the evening. To help keep yourselves ...

Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward after a teenage boy was bitten by a dog in Weymouth. At around 8.30am on Monday 31 January 2022 the victim – a teenage boy – was walking through a tunnel at the end of Carisbrooke and when he reached the grass area, he saw a ...

Detectives carrying out enquiries to locate a wanted man from Weymouth have confirmed that he has been located. Jamie Parkin, aged 21 and also known as Jamie Maguire, was wanted after failing to appear at court when required in connection with offences of assaulting an emergency worker and assault by beating. Following enquiries by officers and a ...

On 25th February 2022 one of the residents at Swanbridge Court in Dorchester will be celebrating her 103rd Birthday. Mrs.  Jean Turner has resided at the development for independent living for over 33 years and continues to do  just that – living independently.  Every day she walks around the building when the weather permits, cooks her ...

Residents across the whole of Dorset will now be able to nominate locally important buildings, structures, designed landscapes, sites and places to be considered on new Local Heritage Lists. The idea is to make it easy for everyone to nominate and celebrate the heritage that is important to their local area. Dorset’s economy relies on the ...

The latest Covid-19 update from Public Health Dorset explains that, following a rise in cases over the past couple of weeks, infection rates have started to fall again across Dorset. Case rates are above the national average for England but below the regional average for the South West. Infection rates remain highest amongst children and lowest ...

Congratulations to Dorset County Hospital’s Maternity Unit which has been recognised as one of the best in the country in the latest national survey results. The 2021 Maternity Survey, published by the Care Quality Commission, summarises the experiences of over 23,000 women who gave birth during January and February 2021. This was during the third COVID-19 ...

The Coroner for Dorset is seeking the assistance of the public to find the next of kin for a man who died in Dorchester. Barry Weller, who was 80 years old, died at his address in Christchurch Court, The Grove, on Wednesday 9 February 2022. His death is not suspicious and no police investigation is needed into ...

Two men from Weymouth have been jailed for sexually abusing girls. Kenneth James Rogers, 59 and of Weymouth, previously pleaded guilty to seven counts of rape of a child under the age of 16, one count of rape of a child under the age of 13, indecent assault, assault of a child under the age of ...

Cllr. Spencer Flower, Leader of Dorset Council, has told KeeP 106 about the importance of Local Plans. “Local Plans are a key component of the planning system. They shape how land use and places will change and develop in the future. This is why I have been, and continue to be, in a dialogue with the ...

The organisers of Dorchester Beerex, West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and charity partner Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary club, are delighted to announce that profits for the 33rd Dorchester Beerex held in the Corn Exchange, Dorchester will be in the region of £18K all in. Amongst other donations a large part of profits will go to ...

GO Girls welcomes the NICE decision to recommend the use of a new cancer drug which provides a treatment option for patients with a common and aggressive form of advanced endometrial cancer (cancer of the womb lining). The decision has been announced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to issue a final ...

A week-long celebration of Brewing and Distilling is taking place in Dorchester from Friday 18th February – Sunday 27th February 2022. The festival will honour the town’s prestigious brewing and distilling history through a series of tastings, exhibitions, talks, poetry, and world-class drinks. It will launch with a weekend celebrating women in brewing and locally ...

It was two days after the first Covid lockdown came to an end: Sunday, 5 July 2020. Warren Wright (34) was in the back of the family car, caring for his six-month old baby daughter as they travelled back to London. His wife of nearly three years was driving. They had enjoyed a happy, sunny, ...

A motorist who admitted that his dangerous driving caused a fatal road traffic collision in Wool has been jailed. Stephen Sheppard, aged 41 and of Redhill Drive in Bournemouth, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court to be sentenced on Monday 7 February 2022 after admitting an offence of causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to three ...

The weekly Covid-19 update for 4th February from Public Health Dorset reveals that, again, infection rates have continued to rise gradually over the past week. Cases remain lowest in over 65s and highest amongst school aged children. The number of people in hospital in Dorset with COVID-19 has risen this week from 61 to 90. Public ...

From Monday 21st February to Saturday 26th February, Shire Hall Museum in Dorchester is hosting a range of seaside themed activities for half-term. Based in Dorchester, Shire Hall Museum brings over 200 years of justice and injustice to life. With interactive galleries, immersive cells and the impressive courtroom, there is something for everyone at the Museum. For ...

It has been announced that returning to Dorchester this year is Window Wanderland, a walking trail to light up our streets described as “a Covid-safe way to connect people, transforming streets into magical outdoor galleries.” Volunteer organiser Kathy O’Borne has told KeeP 106: “Last year, over 200 households, schools and businesses helped to create a magical outdoor ...

The main contractor on the current Dorset County Hospital construction project, Willmott Dixon, recently donated 600 tree whips to be planted at the rapidly emerging new community woodland at Kings Road in Dorchester, but the input didn’t stop there. Willmott Dixon team members then helped to plant the whips during a fun morning alongside staff ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward after a seagull was shot with an object from a catapult in Dorchester. At around 3.25pm on Sunday 30 January 2022 a group of male and female teenagers were shooting at a seagull using a catapult on Weymouth Avenue. An injured seagull was taken to ...

A man has been jailed for three years after admitting grooming and engaging in sexual activity with a Weymouth teenage girl he had met online. Joshua McLoughlin, 24 and of Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 28 January 2022 after pleading guilty at a previous hearing to grooming a child, meeting ...

Dorset Museum has announced its first Wedding Fair is to be held on Sunday 20th February 2022, 11:00-15:00, working alongside a variety of local suppliers to help couples plan their forthcoming nuptials. Offering exclusive hire of its wonderful spaces and facilities, Dorset Museum can create the perfect setting tailored directly to your needs. The Museum is ...

The significant fall in case rates that we have seen over the past few weeks has now tailed off and infection rates have started to rise again since last week’s update, reports Public Health Dorset. However, case rates for Dorset remain below the national and regional averages. Case rates are highest amongst children. There are currently ...

Officers conducting enquiries on behalf of HM Coroner of Dorset into two non-suspicious deaths in the Bridport area are appealing for information from the public. At 10.11am on Tuesday 25 January 2022 Dorset Police received a report of two people, a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man, having been found dead at Bothenhampton Reservoir, Wych Hill. Officers ...

A Weymouth roofer has been prosecuted and sentenced after pleading guilty to charging for work he did not do and unnecessary work at the homes of two women in Dorset, one aged 94, the other 67. Frenny William Jordan (aged 60) of Wyke Road, Weymouth, trading as Ultimate Roofing and Building, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court ...

The Coroner for Dorset is seeking the assistance of the public to find the next of kin for a woman who died in Weymouth. Karen Edmunds, who was 72 years old, died at her home on Tuesday 25 January 2022. Her home address was 8 Lansdowne Square, Weymouth. Her death is not suspicious and no police investigation is ...

Officers investigating an assault in Wool are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. The incident occurred at around 3pm on Saturday 22 January 2022 in Wareham Road. It was reported that a 14-year-old boy was approached by two other male teenagers and punched a number of times to the face and body. He ...

West Dorset MP Chris Loder has lobbied Chancellor Rishi Sunak for a clampdown on absentee landlords who exploit tax loopholes for holiday lets. The Government has responded by announcing on Friday 14th January a clamp down on those who avoid paying their fair share of taxes to support local services. Mr Loder told KeeP 106; “Tax ...