News Archive

A charity car wash is being held in Weymouth this Sunday (9 June) to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity and a Camp Borneo expedition. The event is being held at the towns fire station on Radipole Lane between 10am and 3pm, and firefighters will be washing cars in return for donations. The station is supporting ...

Dorset Police received a report at 10.21pm on Sunday 2 June 2024 that a woman had been assaulted in the area of King Street in Weymouth and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. The victim – a woman in her 30s – was taken to hospital for treatment to a laceration ...

Dorchester Transport Action Group (DTAG) are holding their annual Open Public Meeting on Wednesday 12 June 2024 in the Corn Exchange, Dorchester DT1 1HF. The meeting starts at 7pm (bar open from 6.30pm).  Included in the keynote speakers will be pupils from Damers First School Eco Group who will talk about their campaign to get a ...

Last November a team of ‘guerrilla gardeners’ from Dorchester Transport Action Group (DTAG) were out and about behind Tesco’s tidying up a much used lane popular with pedestrians and cyclist. The footpath between Sawmills Lane and Tesco’s is very narrow and had become overgrown with vegetation, hemmed in by chicken wire and potentially dangerous after dark. Since ...

Dorset Council invite all to a flag raising ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings on Thursday 6 June. The Ceremony will take place at 9am at the Memorial outside County Hall in Dorchester where Veterans, Military Personnel and Dignitaries will pay homage to the incredible bravery of allied troops who left South ...

Witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam are being urged to come forward following a serious injury road traffic collision near Dorchester. Dorset Police received a report at 2.46pm on Sunday 2 June 2024 of a collision on the A35 Dorchester Bypass near to the Stinsford Roundabout involving a silver Mazda Bongo camper van and a white ...

Twickenham Bound Dorset & Wilts Under 20 squad will play East Midlands at Headquarters on June 15th in the Jason Leonard County Under 20 Championship. Sporting contests are sometimes decided by the narrowest of margins and three Dorset & Wilts County rugby teams entered the weekend with all of them having the possibility to run out onto the hallowed ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward following a fatal road traffic collision near Abbotsbury. Dorset Police received a report at 12.34pm on Saturday 1 June 2024 of a collision on the B3157 Coast Road at Abbotsbury Hill involving a blue Yamaha motorcycle and a grey Volvo XC90. Emergency services ...

2024 marks the 40th year of Volunteers’ Week (3-9 June), when Volunteer Centre Dorset will join hundreds of charities and voluntary organisations across Dorset recognising the contribution volunteers make. “Volunteering is an act of kindness that reaches into many aspects of our lives – but we just might not recognise it. It is thanks to the ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward following a serious injury road traffic collision in Weymouth. Dorset Police received a report at 4.01pm on Thursday 30 May 2024 of a collision in Buxton Road involving a black Nissan Micra and a black Yamaha motorcycle. Emergency services attended and the motorcyclist, ...

A man has been arrested in connection with a road traffic collision near Dorchester. At around 1pm on Saturday 18 May 2024 Dorset Police received a report of a single vehicle collision on the westbound carriageway of the A35 Puddletown Bypass near Tolpuddle. Emergency services attended and the driver was checked over by the ambulance service, but ...

A sensory courtyard garden is being created at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) thanks to a £45,204 grant from the Greener Communities Fund. DCH’s sustainability team applied for the funding to turn a disused courtyard opposite Special Care Dentistry into a sensory courtyard garden for patients, staff and visitors to use. The Greener Communities Fund supports the creation ...

The Dorset & Wilts Senior men’s rugby squad are just 1 win away from a Twickenham final. However, the Twin Counties must first overcome the challenge of the North Midlands county side at Droitwich Rugby Club on Saturday if they are to run out on the hallowed Twickenham turf once again. Dorset & Wilts have beaten ...

The Department for Transport has approved funding for accessibility improvements at Dorchester South Railway Station. This significant investment will enhance the travel experience for all passengers, particularly those with disabilities or mobility challenges. The announcement this week confirmed an agreed list of 50 additional stations across England, Scotland, and Wales, including Dorchester South.  This expansion is ...

It has been confirmed by the RFU that the Dorset & Wilts senior men’s county rugby team will play in the semi-final of the Bill Beaumont Pool 3 county rugby championship at Droitwich Rugby Club on Saturday against the North Midlands with the game kicking off at 3 00 pm. Dorset and Wilts qualify as the ...

The DCH100 team taking part in the Jurassic Coast Challenge have hit their fundraising target of £100,000. Dorset County Hospital Charity is delighted to announce that over £100,000 has been raised by the DCH100 team taking part in the Jurassic Coast Challenge held on 18-19 May, organised by the Ultra Challenge group. With over 50 participants walking ...

Demolition has begun at the site of a former Weymouth Holly Court retirement complex to make way for a new development. The demolition of the building on Dorchester Road began recently with the safe removal of the asbestos. The heavy machines moved in today (Tuesday 28th May) following the bank holiday weekend. Holly Court’s roof was left ...

Swans! – that was the subject line of an email from our reporter Idris Martin who sent in some photos of this pair and their brood in Abbotsbury, but not as you may think at the Swannery itself. Idris says: “This pair of swans have produced 6 youngsters nesting on the island in the middle of ...

Dorset Police are appealing for information after they responded to a report of a stolen tractor and subsequent dangerous driving in the Dorchester area. Dorset Police received a report at 11.41pm on Sunday 26 May 2024 that a yellow JCB Fastrac tractor with a trailer had been stolen from the Martinstown area. Officers were deployed to the ...

Dorset Cricket League Results: Bere Regis beat Broadstone by 4 wickets, Dorchester beat Wimborne by 7 wickets, Martinstown beat Blandford by 1 wicket, Beaminster lost to Marnhull by 5 wickets, Corf Mullen beat Portland Red Triangle by 35 runs, Weymouth ran up their second victory of the season against Wichampton winning by 4 wickets, Puddletown beat ...

In their latest newsletter Dorset Council ask if 40-74 year olds have had an NHS health check. An NHS health check is a free check on your cardiovascular health and can spot early signs of diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease or stroke. To find out how you get invited and what happens during an NHS Health ...

Police officers in Dorset are urging residents and visitors to be extra vigilant during the May holiday to prevent car thieves breaking into vehicles and stealing valuable items. As visitor numbers increase during the bank holiday period, officers are urging motorists to take some simple measures to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime. People ...

For the 13th year running, the life-saving charity that is Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, held its Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge on Saturday 18th May. In what has become a real spectacle, hundreds of cyclists took part, either by completing the challenging 55-mile route from Watchet Harbour in Somerset, or a shorter 11-mile route which ...

The poignant reflections of one soldier’s journey through the tumultuous events of D-Day are set to be unveiled to the world, thanks to a generous donation by the family of Terry Parker. This extraordinary diary offers a rare and emotive account of the experiences endured by soldiers in the lead-up to, during, and after the ...

Police officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward after a man was assaulted in Weymouth. Dorset Police received a report at 10.22pm on Thursday 16 May 2024 that a man had been assaulted outside Tesco Express in St Thomas Street. The victim – aged in his 30s – sustained facial injuries that ...

Wednesday 15 May 2024 saw the formal opening of University Centre Kingston Maurward, with the ‘cutting of the ribbon’ carried out by television’s Countryfile presenter, Adam Henson. Joined by various guests from local land-based, industry-related businesses, Dorchester Town’s Mayor & Mayoress – Alistair Chisolm and Kate Hebditch, The Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset – Angus Campbell – as well ...

West Dorset’s MP Chris Loder fears that the 3,500-house North of Dorchester development “will happen” following Dorset Wildlife Trust’s multi-million-pound purchase of 833 acres at Lyscombe Farm – situated 10 miles north of Dorchester. The Trust’s purchase is said to enable 3,700 new homes to be built in Dorset, offering nutrient mitigation credits to housing ...

Dorset Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward as they investigate a road traffic collision near Dorchester. At around 1pm on Saturday 18 May 2024 Dorset Police received a report of a single-vehicle collision on the westbound carriageway of the A35 Puddletown Bypass near Tolpuddle. Emergency services attended and the ...

Patients and staff at Dorset hospitals met Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Victoria Atkins MP when she visited the county. The Health Secretary, who was appointed to the post in November last year, started her tour of the south west with a visit to Dorset HealthCare and Dorset County Hospital sites. Following her first ...

Bill Beaumont RFU County Championship Pool 3 result: Devon 68 points, Dorset & Wilts 43. Devon avenged last season’s 66 points to nil defeat at the hands of Dorset & Wilts with a comprehensive victory at Ivybridge rugby club in the Twin Counties second pool 3 game after beating Berkshire last weekend. The Devon squad that contained 10 ...

Police investigating a report of assaults that occurred on a bus in Weymouth are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. The incident occurred on a First bus opposite the Tesco store on Portland Road in Wyke Regis at around 9.30pm on Wednesday 15 May 2024. It was reported that a man assaulted a woman who ...

Dorset Council is pleased to announce that Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre (WOEC) which is part of Dorset Outdoor Education Service is now Ofsted registered, a significant milestone that allows the service to accept Tax-free childcare for eligible children. This new development opens more opportunities for children and young people to access the wide range of adventurous, physically enriching ...

Thirteen schools in the Dorchester area ran ‘Miles for Mosaic’ at the end of April to support the charity Mosaic which supports bereaved children. Adding up all the individual running distances, between teachers and pupils, the schools collectively ran 4,783 miles which equates to over 182 marathons or the distance of Dorchester to India. Some children at St ...

This Summer, Litter Free Dorset and Dorset Coast Forum have launched a new survey to discover how and where you spend your beach days. They want to know all about your top beach spots, favourite water activities, and thoughts on litter and water cleanliness. Dorset’s coastline is home to some of the UK’s most precious landscapes; ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward following an assault in Weymouth. Dorset Police received a report of an assault that occurred between 1am and 4am on Sunday 5 May 2024 outside the Bee Cars taxi rank in St. Edmund Street. It is reported that the victim was punched in the face, ...

Result of the Bill Beaumont RFU County Championship: Dorset & Wilts 39 pts. v Berkshire 28 at Swanage & Wareham RFC. Current League Champions Dorset & Wilts who lifted the Division 2 trophy last season by beating Durham in the final kicked off this season’s campaign with an 11-point victory in a match that can only ...

It seems that gone are the days when you had to travel to the very north of the UK, or Norway or Finland to observe the aurora borealis which is created when energized particles from the sun slam into Earth’s upper atmosphere. But favourable weather conditions coupled with a particularly strong geomagnetic storm overnight on ...

A man has been charged and due to appear in court in connection with an alleged assault in Weymouth. Dorset Police received a report at 8.42pm on Saturday 4 May 2024 that a man had sustained suspected stab wounds following an assault in Canberra Road. The victim – aged in his 30s – was taken to hospital ...

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after stones where thrown at vehicles on Portland. At approximately 3.10pm on Saturday 4 May 2024 a group of male teenagers, aged around 13 to 16 years old, were throwing stones onto traffic on New Road. It is believed the group was standing near to the Olympic Rings sculpture. Minor ...

Following the high levels of rainfall seen this winter, The Gardens Group, which runs Poundbury Garden Centre and has two more centres in Dorset and Somerset, is calling for gardeners across the region and beyond to harvest rainwater at home. With many methods of collecting rainwater at home, Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens ...

Dorset Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward following a suspicious incident in Weymouth. At around 4.50pm on Friday 26 April 2024 a woman was sitting in the passenger seat of a parked vehicle in Lower St Edmund Street when an unknown man approached. It is reported that the man attempted to ...

In the local Dorset Cricket Leagues Dorchester beat Poole at home by 13 runs, Weymouth were beaten at Redlands by Marnhull by 32 runs, Bere Regis won at Sherborne by 9 runs, Martinstown won at home against Christchurch by 3 wickets, Portland Red Triangle lost at Reforne to Stalbridge by 4 wickets and Abbotsbury overcame ...

Despite reported traffic problems causing long delays on the A35 the Dorset Hot Air Balloon Festival held at the Dorset County Showground on 4th May appears to have been a success, according to our reporter Idris Martin. However, there were various more complaints from the public including lack of marshals and toilet facilities and Idris spoke ...

David Sidwick has been confirmed as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset. The declaration was made today (Saturday May 4) by Graham Farrant, Police Area Returning Officer, following Police and Crime Commissioner elections on May 2. David Sidwick will take up office as Police and Crime Commissioner on Thursday May 9. Dorset Police Chief Constable Amanda Pearson ...

Dorset residents went to the polls on 2 May to elect 82 representatives to Dorset Council.  Local town and parish council, and Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner elections were also held on the same day. Votes for Dorset Council were counted on Friday 3 May at Redlands Community Sports Hub, Weymouth. Votes for the town and ...

A man who sexually assaulted a young girl on Portland has been jailed. Stephen Lewis, aged 72 and of Weymouth, was found guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday 18 April 2024 of sexual assault of a child under 13, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and two counts of assaulting a ...

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is holding its annual Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge on Saturday 18th May 2024 and is encouraging those who wish to take part, to sign up before online registration closes at midnight on Sunday 12th May. The ever-popular event has two routes available to choose from; a 55-mile route which starts ...

Our reporter Idris Martin advises that a major gas leak near the Royal Sailing Academy on Hamm Beach Road off Portland Causeway Road (note the main A354 to Portland is unaffected). The emergency services have closed the access road to the Sailing Academy for up to 24 hours until a repair to the damage has been ...

Dorchester singer/songwriter Nick Capaldi has just released a new single called ‘Lovely People’ which he is hoping will raise funds and awareness to local children’s charity, Julia’s House Hospice. Nick explains, ” One of my favourite charities is Julia’s House Children’s Hospice here in Dorset. I played the song to them, and they loved it. All ...

Dorset Police received several reports of suspected courier fraud between 23 April and 30 April 2024. Courier fraud typically sees a victim receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be a police officer or bank. The caller may be able to confirm some basic details about the victim such as their full name and address. Callers ...

Following the success of the first round of Dorset Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) grants, are open. Dorset Council received a total of 64 applications in the previous round, including a number of Dorchester Chamber for Business members.  One success story was Minuteman Press in Poundbury read the story here. A ...

Dorchester failed to end their season on a high losing at home by 4 goals to nil against Southern Premier League runners up AFC Totton. However, finishing in 9th place in the league table it was the Magpies best league finish for 11 years. Bridport moved in to second place in the Southwest Peninsular League East following their ...

Officers investigating a burglary at a church on Portland are issuing images of stolen items and appealing for information. Dorset Police received a report at around 7.30pm on Sunday 14 April 2024 that a break-in had occurred at St Peter’s Church in Grove Road and various brass items had been stolen. These included two plaques, candlesticks ...

Former Christian Aid staff member Rob Pearce will be the speaker at the annual Christian Aid Week ecumenical service, which takes place on Sunday 12 May at St Mary’s Church, Dorchester at 4pm. Rob, who lives in Wimborne, worked for Christian Aid for 32 years including a stint as regional director in the Southwest, before leaving ...

Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch, visited west Dorset on Wednesday 24th April to meet with small business owners across the constituency and members of the Dorchester Chamber of Business. The Q&A session was hosted by Chris Loder MP at Kingston Maurward College, with discussions on topics including the Civil ...

Campaigners against a proposal to build 4,000 homes on farmland north of Dorchester are warning developers not to anger the Dorset Ooser – the traditional guardian of the countryside. A replica of the scary Ooser mask will be paraded through Dorchester town centre next Saturday, April 27th. A spokesperson for STAND (Save the Area North of Dorchester) ...

For a chance to meet your local newly elected Dorchester Town Councillors and hear more about the work of the Dorchester Town Council over the previous year, do pop along to their Informal Annual Town Meeting on Thursday 16 May between 11am-1pm at the Corn Exchange, DT1 1HF. Take the opportunity to see how your ...

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched its latest fundraising initiative, ‘Brew for the Crew.’ Brew for the Crew is a self-led, fun, corporate and community fundraising activity which anyone can get involved with. It’s an opportunity to get friends, family, colleagues, or even the wider community together for a catchup, a good old cup of ...

Dorset charity Weldmar Hospicecare has set itself an ambitious target of reaching £250,000 during a thirty hour long fundraising marathon, which sees donations made by the public doubled. Weldmar provide specialist care in Dorset for adults with range of life limiting illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and Motor Neurone Disease, but spiralling costs and increased ...

Dorset County Hospital Charity has announced its delight that Kate Adie CBE DL as Appeal Patron for the charity’s £2.5M Emergency and Critical Care Appeal. The charity’s Appeal will fund major enhancements to the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit currently under construction at Dorset County Hospital. This will include overnight accommodation for relatives of ...