News Archive

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward following criminal damage to a home in Dorchester. The occupants of the property in Holloway Road were asleep at around 11.10pm on Wednesday 19 December 2018 when they heard the sound of smashing glass downstairs. They went down and discovered their front lounge window had ...

Officers investigating a serious assault in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 2am on Christmas Day, Tuesday 25 December 2018, a man aged in his 50s was walking on Dorchester Road between the Marks and Spencer garage and the Manor Roundabout when he was almost involved in a ...

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue received reports of a fire at a house in Weymouth on Christmas Day. Both crews from Weymouth were mobilised to a Fire at a Domestic property in Cornwall Close, Weymouth at 2PM. The first appliance arrived swiftly within three minutes of going mobile to the Incident. Crews confirmed the fire was located ...

Staff at Dorset County Hospital asked people to think about the gift of organ donation as they switched on their Christmas tree lights. The hospital’s organ donation team has sponsored a tree to highlight the importance of discussing your wishes around organ donation with your family. Dr Andrew Ball, Critical Care Consultant and Clinical Lead for Organ ...

At 10:00 today (Saturday) a fire engine from Weymouth was called to reports of a child locked in a car. The crew arrived at All Saint’s Road in Weymouth and used small tools and breaking in equipment to release the child. The child was reunited with happy parents!

Christmas can be an exceptionally difficult time for vulnerable children in Dorset – but it’s also a time when we all think about how we could make a difference. Dorset County Council is asking: could you give a child a home? People are needed from all walks of life to sign up to be foster carers, ...

Christmas could have been a different story this year if it wasn’t for the fast action of staff at Dorset County Hospital. Unmistakable in his red suit and shiny black boots, Father Christmas arrived unexpectedly at DCH in need of an operation. Mr Claus came under the care of Vascular Consultant James Metcalfe and his team, who ...

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill is reluctantly asking members of the public to pay the equivalent of an additional £2 per month to help fund policing. Last week, rather than providing a balanced funding settlement for policing, the government has instead placed the responsibility for the majority of this year’s settlement with Police and ...

Schools across Dorset are reaping the benefits of the faster, more reliable broadband speeds now available thanks to a council-run initiative. Superfast Dorset, working with its delivery partner Openreach, has provided around 84,000 homes and businesses with access to superfast broadband. But the roll-out has brought wider community benefits too, including making faster connections available to ...

Ten Dorset gritters have been named – by you – ahead of the cold snap. After the extreme weather of last winter – which saw 24-hour working to keep strategic roads open – Dorset Highways asked residents to name their gritting fleet. The team enjoyed reading through the many suggestions, and the names are now being unveiled: Chillingstone Cold-Harbour Gold ...

Andy Willis, Chair of Dorset HealthCare, has announced the appointment of Eugine Yafele as the Trust’s next Chief Executive, following approval by its Council of Governors. Andy said: “Eugine is a highly experienced leader with a wealth of experience since he started his NHS career as a nurse in London and has had a key role ...

With colder weather on the horizon, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued advice to local people on the best ways to stay safe and warm in the colder and darker months. Safe & Well Manager Vikki Thomas said: “Although December has been mild, the colder weather is just around the corner. As it ...

A man and a woman have been arrested following reports of assaults on two people in Weymouth. Dorset Police received a report at around 1.15am on Saturday 27 October 2018 of an incident in the rear car parks of The Richmoor and Mon Ami hotels on The Esplanade in Weymouth. It was alleged that two holidaymakers – ...

A very special guest helps officially open a new £9 million cancer centre for Dorset Dorset’s new multi-million-pound state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre was opened by Martin Clunes OBE this week. The official opening at Dorset County Hospital was on Wednesday night (12 December) with almost 200 guests including charity donors, staff, patient representatives and health officials ...

The Dorset History Centre has received a grant of over £56,000 from the Wellcome Trust – the UK’s leading medical research charity. The funding will support a year-long project to fully catalogue the Herrison Hospital (the county asylum) archive. The archive dates from 1832 and is of great interest to researchers and family historians alike. It will ...

Missing Poole woman Patricia Fear may be in the Dorchester area and officers are appealing for the public to report any sightings. The 67-year-old was last in contact with her family around lunchtime yesterday, Tuesday 11 December 2018, and it was discovered she was not at her home address in Coles Avenue in Hamworthy. Inspector Matt Chutter, ...

A total of £15.2million has been awarded to Dorset’s Integrated Care System by the Department of Health to continue the major programme of transformation and improvement in the county’s health services. The money, announced on Friday 7 December by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will be used to fund three major initiatives: ...

With just Christmas just around the corner, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service has released some top tips to help keep your family safe over the festive period! Check your Christmas lights are in good working order and conform to the British Safety Standard. Never overload electrical sockets, and make sure outdoor lights are fitted ...

The school has taken the decision to close on Monday due to a failure of their heating system. A letter from the head teacher on their website states: “Our heating system has broken. The new part has been ordered, from Germany, but cannot be fitted until Monday… However, as the heating system has to be drained, to ...

A young lady from Dorset attended the Christmas Cracker last week and lost an item of huge sentimental value to her. She has lost her gold chain and heart shaped locket! Whilst the owner has re-traced her steps, results to find the item are few. She was at the Corn exchange, Holy Trinity & United churches for ...

The annual Dorchester Christmas Cracker, sponsored by Kingston Maurward College, took place on Thursday, December 6, to celebrate the festive season within the county town. Festivities began with a carol service in St Peter’s Church at 5pm, followed by performances from the Rock Choir in Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Retailers also opened for late night shopping, ...

Fire crews have been attending a fire at a commercial property at Pymore Mills in Pymore, Bridport. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue took a 999 call at 11.10 today (6 Dec) to reports of a fire inside a factory. 2 fire crews from Bridport, 1 crew from Beaminster and aerial platforms from Yeovil station attended the ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to take care with candles after a bedroom fire last night (5 December). Fire crews were called to a property in the north of the Service area, where a candle had been allowed to burn down inside a glass holder which was placed on top of ...

A man has been charged in connection with a reported assault in Blandford. Officers were called at 9.12pm on Monday 7 May 2018 to Damory Court Street following reports that a 31-year-old man had been assaulted. It was alleged that he was assaulted with a claw hammer before being driven at by a man in ...

Officers searching for missing Shaftesbury woman Connie Lewis are pleased to confirm she has been found safe and well. Connie, aged 26, was reported missing at 7.35pm yesterday, Wednesday 5 December 2018, having last been in contact with her family at around 2.10pm. She has now been located in the Honiton area. We would like to thank everyone ...

Officers searching for a woman who went missing from Shaftesbury are appealing for help from the public to find her. Connie Lewis, aged 26 and from Greenstone Road, was last in contact with her family at around 2.10pm on Wednesday 5 December 2018. She is described as white, around five feet eight inches tall with long brown ...

Dorset Police were called earlier this afternoon at around 3.10PM to reports that a suspicious item was discovered at the Lantern Resource Centre on Ranelagh Road in Weymouth, the Park District. As a precaution, that building was evacuated along with nearby properties and the train station. Officers are carrying out their investigation and a Bomb disposal team ...

Dorset County Council engineers have celebrated the successful repairs to Wool bridge with their partners and contractors. The ten-month project employed specialist equipment and professional expertise from the public and private sector to ensure a sympathetic and long-lasting repair to the Grade II Listed structure. Emergency stabilisation of the bridge in January with gabion bags of stone ...

You don’t have to be drunk to be a drink driver Dorset Police will launch its annual Christmas drink and drug drive campaign, running from 1 December 2018 to 1 January 2019, with an event in the aptly named Brewery Square in Dorchester. There is nothing ironic or humorous about the force’s message to anyone driving this ...

Officers investigating a reported shoplifting incident at a baby shop in Dorchester say a woman has come forward. At around 12 midday on Thursday 18 October 2018 it was reported a woman entered JoJo Maman Bebe in South Street and stole almost £100-worth of clothing. A CCTV appeal was issued earlier today, Wednesday 28 November 2018, and ...

Norovirus or the ‘winter vomiting bug’ can be prevalent at this time of year and there have been several recently reported cases in Dorset. Norovirus can be spread through contact with an infected person, through contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated with the virus, or by eating contaminated food or water. Please help us to ...

“You’re looking after someone, but who’s looking after you?” – that’s the message to thousands of unpaid carers across Dorset as we get ready to celebrate Carers Rights Day on Friday 30 November. Each year, Carers Rights Day is held across the UK. It brings organisations throughout Dorset together to help unpaid carers know their rights ...

A report released today by HMICFRS (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services) clearly shows the overwhelming demand placed on police services by dealing with people who have mental health issues. The report ‘Policing and mental health: picking up the pieces’, states that people with mental health issues are being let down, ...

LiveWell Dorset is placing personalised healthy living advice at the fingertips of the county. My LiveWell is a new online tool with tailored tips to help adults in Dorset get healthy. Leading Public Health Dorset’s Prevention at Scale programme; LiveWell Dorset helps you make lifestyle changes that keep you healthier for longer. Stuart Burley, Public Health Dorset ...

A Bournemouth trader who misled two vulnerable consumers when doing work at their homes in Dorset has been jailed for 22 months. Another trader working at the same addresses has also been fined for misleading the same two consumers in relation to other work. The prosecutions followed an investigation by trading standards officers from Dorset ...

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is once again encouraging supporters to sign up early for their Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge 2019 after another fantastic response last year. The event, which is not designed as a race, involves cycling through some of Dorset and Somerset’s most beautiful countryside and takes place on Sunday 12th May 2019 ...

Crews from Swanage, Poole, Wimborne, Christchurch, Hamworthy & Wareham have been dealing with a health fire today (Monday 19th Nov). 3 hectares of health have been destroyed near to the Soldiers Road area of Wareham. The fire is now surrounded and damping down is in progress.  

A lorry and a car have collided on New Road on Portland. Fire crews from Portland, Weymouth and Dorchester are currently dealing with the incident. Police have confirmed that the road is partially blocked affecting traffic in to and out of Fortuneswell.

£1.3m has been secured to help tackle domestic abuse across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Dorset County Council is supporting Hart District Council in leading on an innovative project bid to prevent domestic abuse and support victims across the region, securing £1,297,125 of funding. The funding has been awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities ...

The theme of this year’s Brake Road Safety Week 19 – 25 November 2018 is for road users on both two wheels and four (or more) to be #BikeSmart and show due consideration for each other. More information about this national charity can be found on its website www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk Dorset roads policing officers, including the No Excuse ...

A man who admitted carrying out a burglary at a home in Wool has been jailed. Jamie Andrew Dickson-Smith, aged 41 and of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday 14 November 2018 after he admitted committing the offence on Friday 28 September 2018. He was sentenced to two years and four months ...

A new road safety programme, aimed specifically at defence personnel, is launching this week. Statistics show that vehicle-related collisions are the second largest cause of non-operational fatalities and injuries across the Ministry of Defence, only exceeded by training incidents. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has now worked in partnership with the Ministry of ...

The incident occurred at around 10.45pm yesterday, Friday 16 November 2018, on The Esplanade near to the King’s Statue. The victim, a man aged in his 30s, reported that he had been involved in an altercation with two men and a woman and had sustained a stab wound to his back. He was taken to hospital for ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a caravan on fire on Glue Hill. Initially two crews, one from Sturminster Newton and one from Sherborne fire stations were in Sturminster Newton. On arrival crews located the caravan on fire which was situated near to a thatched property, extra crews were initially requested due ...

310 guests celebrated the best and brightest from the air ambulance community on Monday 12th November at the national Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence 2018. Awards hosts Richard Madeley and Angellica Bell handed out 12 Awards to outstanding individuals and teams, whose stories were inspirational, astounding and humbling. The awards, which are independently judged, went to ...

Detectives investigating an incident in Weymouth that left a woman with a possible stab wound are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. At 7.18pm yesterday, Wednesday 14 November 2018, Dorset Police received a report from the ambulance service that paramedics were at Dorchester South train station treating a woman aged in her 30s who ...

In the lead up to Christmas, Brewery Square is preparing to welcome families to the development with a range of free, festive events beginning on Saturday, November 24. Skating In The Square is back for another year as part of a packed schedule of events, operating until Saturday, January 5. Tickets can be purchased in advance ...

WDDC & DCC, at the request of The Dorchester Business Improvement District have agreed to provide FREE parking in all Council operated car parks and on-street parking in Dorchester for the last 3 Saturdays in Dec (8th, 15th, 22nd) as well as Christmas Eve Monday 24th of December. This initiative requested by DBID with the ...

Officers searching for a missing Weymouth man are appealing to the public for help to find him. John Chamberlain, aged 75, was last seen at his home address in Gallwey Road at around 1am today, Wednesday 14 November 2018. John is described as white, around five feet eight inches tall and of medium build with a bald ...

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill, has today joined the growing chorus of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Chief Constables calling on the Government to provide more central funding for policing. Dorset Police Chief Constable James Vaughan has also made a similar declaration. This is the first time that Dorset has spoken out ...

Dorset was hit with strong winds and driving rain overnight causing flooding and downed trees. Heavy rain hit Dorset overnight along with winds gusting over 30mph. The Metoffice issued a yellow warning for Friday night warning of heavy rain and winds. A number of issues occurred overnight causing disruption to roads, homes and businesses. Flooding occurred on ...

Local residents and businesses are being invited to help shape a Dorchester town centre master plan. Pop in to the Council offices at South Walks House, Dorchester DT1 1UZ at any time to view the work in progress on the following dates: * Thursday 15 November – ...

There were cheers and smiles all round as the Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum team won three prestigious awards in one night. Dorchester’s newest museum, on High West Street, scooped a gold award and two silvers at the Dorset Tourism Awards last night. They won gold in the new Tourism Innovation and New Business category ...

On this very special year of commemorating the end of World War One a hundred years ago, there were concerns that the weather would curtail the annual Thomas Hardye Remembrance event. However, almost on cue, the sun came out as the whole school and its guests assembled on Queens Avenue. As always, the ceremony began with ...

This year will mark 80 years since British communities began to take in 10,000 child refugees fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe. These civic efforts with the support of the Government would come to be known as the ‘KinderTransport’. 80 years later, children are still fleeing war and still do not have a safe passage to ...

A large-scale multi-agency training exercise took place on Portland to test the emergency services’ response to a major incident. This exercise was held during the afternoon and evening of Wednesday 7 November 2018 and was designed to enhance the skills of emergency responders when managing a major incident and was not in relation to any specific ...

A man has come forward following an appeal in relation to a reported purse theft in Dorchester. Between 12.45pm and 1.30pm on Thursday 18 October 2018 a woman aged in her 80s reported that her purse had been stolen while shopping in the town centre and her bank card was allegedly used for a transaction at ...

Broadmayne first school near Dorchester is one of the only first schools in the area lucky enough to have an outdoor, heated swimming pool. In fact, the school motto is ‘every child a swimmer’ as it is the ambition of teachers and parents that no child leaves Broadmayne having not learned to swim. ​ Pupils at ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward following a burglary in Weymouth. At approximately 1.50pm on Friday 2 November 2018 the victim, a woman aged in her late teens, was at her home address off Brunel Drive when a man rang the doorbell a number of times. When the victim did not ...

The Care Quality Commission had rated Dorset County hospital as ‘Good’! Patricia Miller, Chief Executive of Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted that the efforts of our staff to provide the very best care and services for our patients have been recognised. “The overall rating applied to Dorset County Hospital and all of ...