News Archive

Dorset Council has installed two ‘CoastSnap’ points at West Bay and is now asking people walking past to take pictures there. The CoastSnap points feature special smart phone cradles that point in a particular direction. This means images taken there can be used to monitor Dorset’s dynamic coastline. Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Environment, ...

Officers investigating a burglary at a bike store in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 9.45pm on Tuesday 31 December 2019 a door at Mud Sweat and Gears on Link Park was smashed. Entry was gained to the building and three electric bikes were stolen. The three stolen bikes ...

Customers are looking forward to what will be one of the best beer selections available ever at Dorchester Beerex this year, organised by West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Casterbridge Rotary. The popular festival sponsored by Palmers brewery of Bridport takes place in the Corn Exchange on Friday and Saturday of February 7th& ...

Not everybody sends Christmas greetings by email and the Dorchester & West Dorset Scouts have been heartened by the support given to them by members of the public in this, their 32nd year of the Scout Post scheme in Dorchester, the 7th in Bridport and the 3rd in Beaminster.  Although final numbers are still awaited ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service as part of the Fire Kills campaign is asking people to make sure they fit smoke alarms on every level of their home and to test them regularly. Many people see January as an opportunity for a fresh start, and fire safety should be top of the list. So, this ...

Don’t miss the deadline to apply for school places for September 2020. With only eight days left to sign up, there are still over 600 families who have yet to apply. Children born between 01 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 can start their school reception place in September 2020. For the best chance of getting ...

The Great Field at Poundbury was turned into a winter wonderland at the weekend, with almost 400 people taking part in Weldmar Hospicecare’s first ever Frosty 5k, which has raised an estimated £12,000. The event was originally due to take place in mid-December, but postponed due to high winds making it unsafe for inflatable structures around ...

At the start of the new year, many people take stock and consider making changes in their lives, including looking at a new career. Will 2020 be the right time for you to make a difference to a child’s life? Becoming a foster carer can be a rewarding career. There are many types of fostering including short-term, ...

A woman who died in a fatal collision on the Upton bypass near the Bakers Arms roundabout has been named by her devastated family as 28-year-old Chloe Lloyd.  Dorset Police was called at 8.50pm on Friday 3 January 2020 to reports of a single vehicle collision on the westbound carriageway of the A35 Upton Bypass, just ...

Dorset Council has submitted proposals for its 2020-21 budget in a report going to three Scrutiny Committees (People, Place and Resources) on 13 January. These proposals include: • Increase in funding for adult social care of £11.7m, taking the budget from £111.2m last year to £122.9m to meet the forecast demand for social care for older and ...

Some local flood warnings remain in force as follows, however previous alerts for the Cerne Valley, Upper Frome and Lower Frome and South Winterbourne Valley areas are no longer in force: Weymouth Rivers and Streams: River levels remain high but stable at the Broadwey river gauge as a result of saturated ground conditions. Consequently, the risk ...

Weldmar Hospicecare’s popular Christmas ‘Treecycle’ project is back, where anyone with a real Christmas tree can have it collected and disposed of by the charity in return for a donation. The traditional time to take down the Christmas tree is Twelfth Night, which falls this Sunday, 5th January. Now in its third year, collections have been expanded ...

Officers investigating an attempted robbery in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. It was reported that between 11.15 and 11.30pm on Sunday 29 December 2019 a woman aged in her 20s was cycling home from Weymouth town centre when three men approached her and attempted to steal her bicycle. She rode ...

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill has launched a consultation to ask the county’s residents for their views on paying a slight increase in their precept – the part of a council tax bill that funds local police – in order to deliver a prudent budget. The commissioner, along with members of his team and volunteers, will ...

Detectives investigating a reported assault in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 4.10am on Wednesday 1 January 2020 an alleged altercation occurred involving two men and two women near to Hardy’s pub on Trinity Street. Some of the people involved were wearing fancy dress costumes. The victim – a ...

Officers investigating a distraction burglary in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward. At around 3.30pm on Saturday 28 December 2019 a man wearing a high-visibility jacket attended an address off Portwey Close purporting to be from the water board. He claimed he needed to check the water pressure. The elderly female ...

Dorset Police would like to advise members of the public that the technical difficulty with the 101 non-emergency telephone number has now been fixed. Engineers were looking into the fault, which was reported on Monday 30 December 2019, and worked closely with the service provider to resolve the issue as soon as possible. The emergency number 999 ...

Detectives investigating an indecent exposure incident near Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 7pm on Sunday 29 December 2019 Dorset Police received a report that a man had indecently exposed himself in the Meadow View area of Charminster. The victim, a woman aged in her 60s, heard a knock ...

Dorset Police’s Chief Constable and Police & Crime Commissioner are wishing Dorset communities a very Merry Christmas. Chief Constable James Vaughan said: “As 2019 draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. “As a force we have had another busy, but ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS), Dorset Police and other LRF partner agencies, are reminding residents about the dangers of flooding as the Met Office forecasts more rain for Dorset in the coming hours. With bad weather likely to continue over the coming hours and into the weekend, emergency services and local councils are ...

As the festive season begins, Dorset Council is pleased to inform residents of a brand-new partnership with The Salvation Army. Dorset residents can donate their unwanted clothing and shoes in one of the new clothing banks from The Salvation Army, located at various car parks around the county. Many of us are giving and receiving gifts this ...

On Thursday 12th December, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service held a presentation to celebrate the achievements of eleven young people completing the Prince’s Trust Team programme. The celebration event enabled the successful participants to present to family, friends and distinguished guests what they have achieved over the previous 12 weeks and their hopes for ...

Detectives investigating the rape of a 15-year-old girl in Dorchester are renewing their appeal, two weeks on from the offence. They are also able to confirm that they have obtained a DNA profile for the offender responsible for the rape, which occurred in a field at St Osmund’s School in Barnes Way shortly before 9.22pm on ...

Dorset is bracing itself for heavy rain over the next 4 days including tonight as the Met Office issue a yellow weather warning for rain. The MetOffice have said: “Several periods of heavy rain are from Wednesday afternoon until early Friday. 30 to 50 mm of rain is likely to accumulate quite widely during this time, ...

Only Santa knows what’s on Peppa Pig’s Christmas list this year, but she would surely want Mummy and Daddy Pig rescued from Wessex Water’s sewers after they were flushed down someone’s loo. Miniature toy versions of the iconic children’s favourites were found at the company’s water recycling centre in Weymouth, where staff have fished out other ...

Damers First School has been awarded Eco Schools Primary Eco School of the Year Award. Eco-Schools is an international programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that aims to “empower students to be the change our sustainable world needs by engaging them in fun, action-orientated and socially responsible learning”. Introduced in 1994 in response ...

A nine year old from Burton Bradstock has delivered an early Christmas gift to Weldmar Hospicecare patients and staff. Lily Tancock visited the Inpatient Unit in Dorchester with boxes of special gift bags that she’d put together, full of treats. Lily says, “I thought it would make everyone feel special at Christmas and make them real happy, ...

The number of people sleeping rough in Dorset has halved – thanks to work by Dorset Council and other agencies. Latest figures show that there are currently 18 people rough sleeping in the county, compared to 38 last year. In Weymouth and Portland the number of rough sleepers has fallen from 18 to six. Councillor Graham Carr-Jones, ...

Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill is asking members of the public to pay the equivalent of an extra £1.25 per month to enable the Force to recruit 50 new officers. The proposed increase to the precept, the element of a monthly council tax bill that funds policing, will also allow for inflation and ...

Dorset Council is setting up a quarterly ‘Good Practice Award’ to celebrate the hard work of care and support professionals in the area and to highlight the opportunities of working in the sector. If you know of a care or support worker that goes that extra mile, we want to hear their story! We would like ...

Dorchester’s courthouse museum is offering reduced price entry for everyone in the DT postcode this January. Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum on High West Street is giving locals a special offer this January – simply show a letter or bill with a DT postcode on and get reduced price entry. All tickets also include an annual ...

Dorset Police have launched a campaign to help reduce demand on their contact centre during the festive season. Every Christmas and New Year, calls to 999 increase and whilst many are genuine emergencies, many are not. Already this year the force have seen an 14% increase in 999 calls compared to last year, and it ...

Patients at Weldmar Hospicecare’s Inpatient Unit in Dorchester have been treated to a festive visit from two miniature donkeys. Albert The Great and Snoopy were guided around and introduced to patients by their owners, the Hyde family who operate Trinity Street Christmas Trees. As well as spending time in the bays of the IPU, the three year ...

The Environment Agency has issued renewed groundwater flood warnings for the following areas: South Winterbourne Valley – Kingston Russell, Winterbourne Abbas, Winterbourne Steepleton, Martinstown or Winterbourne St Martin, Winterbourne Monkton, Winterbourne Herringston and Winterbourne Came. West of Dorset – Bridport, Chideock, Martinstown, Milborne St. Andrew, Nottington, Piddlehinton, Piddletrenthide, Upwey, Winterborne Abbas, Winterborne Kingston, Winterborne Steepleton, Winterborne Stickland, ...

Officers are appealing for information from the public following a fail-to-stop collision in Weymouth. At around 9pm on Tuesday 10 December 2019 Dorset Police was called to reports that a silver Ford Mondeo had collided with parked vehicles in Chickerell Road. It is reported the driver and occupants fled the scene. A number of vehicles were damaged ...

Detectives investigating a rape in Dorchester are renewing their appeal for anyone with information to come forward – with CCTV of the suspect being released and an appeal for local homeowners to check any footage. Dorset Police received a report at 9.57pm on Thursday 5 December 2019 that a 15-year-old girl had been raped in the ...

A Flood Alert has been issued by the Environment Agency. Flooding is possible for: Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Seatown, West Bay, Bothenhampton, Burton Freshwater, Burton Bradstock, Cogden Beach, Chesil Beach, West Fleet, East Fleet and Chiswell. Be prepared. Due to high winds and a tidal surge, we believe there is a possibility of flooding for Lyme Regis, Charmouth, ...

Officers investigating a fatal road traffic collision near Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. Dorset Police received a report at 5.38pm on Sunday 8 December 2019 of a collision on the B3157 Coast Road on Bramdon Lane between Chickerell and Portesham involving a black Triumph motorcycle and a ...

Dorset Council has confirmed that 2100 students from schools across Dorset are booked to attend the Big Bang @ Dorset Fair at The Tank Museum, Bovington, on Wednesday 18 March 2020. Big Bang is a programme of UK-wide events that get students excited about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM subjects). Big Bang @ Dorset Fair 2019 ...

A Dorset charity is helping victims of childhood trauma recover and begin rebuilding their lives. The Ferndown-based Bus Stop Club charity, funded by organisations including the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, provides help through its SOS course, providing weekly group sessions and outings for members between January and July each year. Project ...

Cancer charity, GO Girls, are being supported by well-known, local artist, Paul Liggins, who is set to paint a unique one-off original painting for GO Girls to auction. Paul Liggins is a Dorset artist who is recognised for his colourful paintings of coastal scenes featuring happy harbours and jolly fisherman.  He will paint an original 20” ...

Detectives are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward following a report of a rape in Dorchester. Dorset Police received a report at 9.57pm on Thursday 5 December 2019 that a 15-year-old girl had been raped in the field at St Osmund’s C of E Middle School on Barnes Way. The incident occurred shortly ...

The Environment Agency has updated a flood warning as follows – flooding is expected for: Groundwater flooding for Kingston Russell, Winterbourne Abbas, Winterbourne Steepleton, Martinstown or Winterbourne St Martin, Winterbourne Monkton, Winterbourne Herringston and Winterbourne Came. Immediate action required. Groundwater levels have peaked at the Kingston Russell Borehole at 117.5mAOD on the 4/12/19. We expect some properties ...

Two social workers from Dorset were shortlisted for prestigious awards in recognition of their outstanding work in supporting vulnerable adults. Linzi Gow, Specialist Manager with the Adult Access Team at Dorset Council was selected for Team Leader of the Year – Adult Services and Tilly Bowden, a social worker, was selected for Adult Social Worker of ...

Officers investigating the fraudulent use of a bank card in Weymouth are issuing a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to. A woman aged in her 30s reported that on Wednesday 27 November 2019 she had lost her bank card after getting on the train at Upwey station to Weymouth at around ...

Officers investigating an assault where a man was knocked unconscious in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Dorset Police received a report at 8.38pm on Tuesday 26 November 2019 of a man with injuries on Chickerell Road at the junction with Marsh Road. It is reported that the victim – a man aged in his ...

The very popular Scout Post starts up again in many areas of Dorset on 5th December and continues through to 19th December. Yellow post-boxes are placed in shops at convenient locations in the participating areas where cards can be posted for less than half the price of a second class stamp (only 25p). Just drop your ...

Parts of our county are still on a flood alert with a number of locations on flood warnings. • Flooding is expected for: Groundwater flooding for Kingston Russell, Winterbourne Abbas, Winterbourne Steepleton, Martinstown or Winterbourne St Martin, Winterbourne Monkton, Winterbourne Herringston and Winterbourne Came. Immediate action required. Groundwater levels have risen at the Kingston Russell Borehole to 116.6mAOD ...

Time to shop locally as free car parking comes to Dorset Council run car parks this December ! Full details for free, all day parking: Blandford – Saturdays 7, 14, 11, 21 Dec Bridport – Wednesdays 4, 11, 18, 25 Dec and Saturdays 7, 14, 21 & 28 Dec Dorchester -Saturdays 7, 14, 21 Dec and Christmas Eve Gillingham – ...

Tickets for the 32nd Dorchester Beerex organised by members of West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Casterbridge Rotary Club go on sale December 1st. The ever popular festival will be taking place in Dorchester Corn Exchange on Friday & Saturday the 7th & 8th of February 2020. Palmer’s brewery of Bridport will once again ...

Officers investigating a series of criminal damage incidents in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. Over the weekend of Saturday 23 November and Sunday 24 November 2019 Dorset Police received seven reports of criminal damage to vehicle windows in the town. On several occasions ball bearings were found at the ...

A body has very sadly been found in the search for a missing woman from the Sherborne area. Felicity Clough, aged 55 and from Yetminster, was reported missing having left Yeovil District Hospital at 3.50am on Sunday 24 November 2019. At 1.18pm on Monday 25 November 2019, Dorset Police received a report that a body had been ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding drivers to take care when driving on roads potentially affected by flooding. A number of calls have been received today (22 November) from people who have driven into floodwater and then got stuck. Two rescues have been carried out. With bad weather likely to continue over the weekend, ...

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has announced that online registration for their Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge 2020 will open on Wednesday 4th December 2019. Supporters wishing to take part next year will have to be quick, as demand for the 600 places available is once again expected to be high. Next year sees the 20th ...

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance came out winners in two categories at this year’s National Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence, held on Monday 18th November. Almost 300 guests came together to celebrate the best and brightest from the air ambulance community. Each listened to some remarkable stories of the shortlisted nominees, all of whom demonstrated ...

Work to replace sand on parts of Weymouth beach and improve flood protection will begin next week. (26/11) Dorset Council will use dump trucks and excavators to move sand from the southern end of the beach, near the Peninsula, to the northern end near Greenhill. The sand will be moved from the lower part of the beach. ...

Play your part this winter to stop the spread of Norovirus in Dorset – just Think NORO! • We can all play a role in stopping the spread of this unpleasant infectious bug • Alcohol hand gels DON’T kill the virus – handwashing is the best way to protect yourself against norovirus • Laboratory reports of norovirus in ...

Dorset Police are giving the general public the opportunity to step into the chief constable’s shoes and tell us where they want to see resources allocated. This phase allows the public to choose where to spend resources on topics like 999 and 101 demand or searching for a vulnerable missing person. The simple slider tool will ...

Dorset Music Hub is crowdfunding for a project that will encourage young people to make music and learn new skills. They are proposing to create a collaborative record label to develop the musical learning and emotional expression of young people. A series of free workshops will help young people learn how to reflect on their own ...

Officers investigating a sexual assault in Sherborne are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. The victim, a 15-year-old girl, was walking along the footpath that runs behind Richmond Green toward Acreman Street at around 3pm on Sunday 10 November 2019 when a man walked through some metal barriers at the bottom of ...