News Archive

At approximately 9.10 this morning, crews from Wareham and Poole fire station attended a road traffic collision on the Wareham side of Sugar Hill. The service received reports of persons medically trapped in their vehicle. On arrival, 2 female casualties had self-extricated themselves with the assistance from South West Ambulance Service. Image: Wareham Fire Station Facebook.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) has today (22 Jan 2021) received a positive inspection report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). It details how the Service has responded to the pandemic, maintaining vital services to its communities, and working to support partner agencies. The letter, which follows ...

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is concerned about a continued rise in assaults against its people. The service, which covers Dorset, explains that its staff experienced 50 incidents of violence and aggression from patients and other members of the public between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, including 16 physical assaults. That represents ...

“We have started to see case rates level off and decrease marginally, but until we see a significant reduction in cases our hospital admissions are likely to remain high” say Public Health Dorset as the latest update for the country has been published. The BCP Council area now has the 20th highest infection rate (793.8 per ...

A message of thanks has been issued to the Dorset team working tirelessly to vaccinate the most vulnerable. The NHS in Dorset is working incredibly hard to deliver the COVID-19 vaccination to the most vulnerable local people, at the same time as providing care to all those who need it and whilst coping with the rising ...

Diverse Abilities, in partnership with Charity Challenge, has launched its Dorset 3 Peaks challenge for 2021. Taking place on Saturday June 19, participants trek across the Wessex Ridgeway to raise funds for Dorset’s disability charity. Participants will ascend to the top of Lewesdon Hill, Pilsdon Pen, and Bulbarrow Hill on Saturday June 19. Summiting an accumulative ...

Officers investigating a serious injury collision in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. An investigation is underway into a collision that occurred at around 8pm on Monday 18 January 2021 on Chafeys Roundabout involving a blue Nissan GTR and a silver BMW. Officers attended the scene of the collision, ...

Councillors have approved plans to improve services and accommodation for Dorset children in care. Today (19 January 2021) Dorset Council’s Cabinet approved a ‘Placement Sufficiency Strategy’ for 2020-22. The strategy sets out plans to improve accommodation for children in care in Dorset, by for example refurbishing and registering several small properties as children’s homes. Read the plans here. Cllr ...

The Pavilion in the Park was handed over by builder C G Fry, who have built at cost, on Friday 15th January ready for fit out, with PiP café and community hub planning to open in early April. Located on the Great Field at Poundbury, Pavilion in The Park (PiP) will be a sustainable community based café ...

Crews from Wareham fire station were sent to an alarm activating in a property on Corfe Road shortly after midday today (Sunday). The alarm was heard by a member of the public who called 999. When crews arrived, they had discovered that the occupier of the property had gone out and left cooking unattended on the hob. Dorset ...

It is with a heavy heart that the directors of Chickerell Steam and Vintage Show must announce that our 2021 show will not be going ahead as hoped. Despite the good news of the vaccine roll out it is still very much unknown how the Covid19 situation will pan out over the rest of the year, ...

Gary Hepburn, Chair of Governors at Wyke Regis Primary Federation, has sent KeeP 106 this appeal: If you have a laptop or computer pad device you no longer require, there are young people from our schools in Wyke Regis who would be pleased to receive your device to use for their studies. With all young people currently ...

Communities across Dorset are being asked to keep up the good work in stopping the spread of COVID-19. Agencies tasked with stopping the virus in its tracks have written an open letter to everyone across the county thanking them for their efforts and urging them to keep following the restrictions. Local authorities, NHS services, police, fire, utilities ...

A former school site will remain an asset for Dorset after being secured by the council. Dorset Council has bought the former St Mary’s School site near Shaftesbury for £10.05m excluding taxes and fees. Opportunities to secure sites like this for Dorset are very rare. Cllr Spencer Flower Leader of Dorset Council, told KeeP 106: “This is ...

Dorchester’s Brewery Square has announced delivery, Click and Collect, and online services during the closure of non-essential businesses. During the lockdown period, which commenced on Tuesday 5 January 2021, several businesses will be keeping their doors open for essential services. These include Tout’s Pharmacy, F.I.T.T. Chiropractic, Moorland Express, and the Atrium Health Centre. Click and Collect and delivery for ...

The community film Dorchester at Christmas 2020 has been a huge success. Over 550 DVDs of the film were given out in Dorchester and surrounding villages to those most needing a Christmas boost: those in hospital, the hospice, care homes, sheltered accommodation and others who are struggling.   It has been viewed on You Tube over 2,500 ...

COVID-19 vaccinations in Dorset – be reassured, the NHS will let you know when it is your turn. People in Dorset are being reassured that the NHS will contact them about the COVID-19 vaccine when it is their turn. Those most at risk in our local communities will be invited to get their vaccination first, in ...

A drink driver who caused a serious injury collision in North Dorset has been jailed. Robert Shapland-Hill, aged 52 and of Hillside Drive in Okehampton, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 8 January 2021 after admitting offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drink driving. He was sentenced to two years in prison ...

Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner is leading a call for police and council key workers to receive COVID-19 vaccinations and testing. Martyn Underhill has coordinated a letter, co-signed by police and council leadership, making the request to the Chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which advises health departments on immunisation. The letter ...

Dorset Police is launching a campaign to raise awareness around domestic abuse and the emotional and psychological impact of controlling and coercive behaviour. The campaign also aims to reassure people that they will still have access to vital police and support services despite restrictions related to COVID-19. Victims can also often see an increase in domestic ...

“A Covid-safe way to connect people, transforming streets into magical outdoor galleries” . This winter has been especially hard for everyone. Would you like to brighten up your town and make your daily lockdown walk much more exciting? Window Wanderland is a fun community project that started in Bristol in 2015, with amazing results. Dorchester will ...

A man has been arrested in connection with a series of reported burglaries in the Weymouth and Dorchester area. The first incident occurred at around 5.40am on Sunday 25 October 2020 at Broadwey Village Stores on Dorchester Road in Weymouth. The offenders allegedly gained entry by smashing a glass panel. Nothing was reported as stolen. At 5.12am ...

Dorset Council’s budget proposals for financial year 2021-22 go to the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 19 January for approval. Dorset Council is proposing to increase its budget for financial year 2021-22 to just under £313m (from £304m the year before). This budget funds all services the council provides to residents, communities and businesses throughout the year. The increase in budget is needed to fund the cost of responding to the ...

Two people have been arrested in connection with a reported suspicious fire on Portland. Dorset Police received a report at around 6.25pm on Friday 8 January 2021 of a fire in a garage in Ladymead Close. There were no reports of any injuries. Following enquiries by detectives from Weymouth CID a 27-year-old local woman and a 33-year-old ...

During December 2020 the residents of Queens Avenue and Treves Road in Dorchester decorated their front windows to form an Advent Calendar which could be seen from the road. Dorchester Middle School also joined in with a display. On the date of each individual window something extra was added or revealed and people were invited to ...

Dorset Police Rural Crime Unit launched operation Galileo on Saturday night (9th Jan) specifically targeting rural crime across Dorset. At Ringstead officers witnessed a vehicle involved in suspected poaching offences. The vehicle, an air rifle and a deceased rabbit have been seized. The men involved will be interviewed for poaching, Covid breaches and traffic offences. If you have ...

Detectives investigating a suspicious fire on Portland are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. Dorset Police received a report at around 6.25pm on Friday 8 January 2021 of a fire in a garage in Ladymead Close. Officers attended with the fire service. There were no reports of any injuries. Detective Sergeant George Graham, of ...

A crew from Dorchester station attended a property today (Saturday) due to reports of a chimney fire in Godmanstone. When crews arrived smoke and flames were issuing from chimney top. The fire was extinguished, in the fire place, by the owner of the property prior to the arrival of the crew. Crews dug out burnt materials from ...

Due to the ongoing situation with coronavirus, the team behind this popular event have made the decision not to run Abbey Hill Steam Rally in 2021. Whilst they had hoped to be able to be able to run a show this year, it clear that this will not be possible due to the show being held ...

Dorchester Police are appealing for information following Criminal Damage which has been caused to a van parked in Chalky Road, Broadmayne. The most recent incident occurred overnight between 05/01 & 06/01 and resulted in the damage pictured. Another incident of damage to this vehicle was reported occurring overnight between 21/12 & 22/12. If you have any information that ...

An intruder who stabbed a man in his Weymouth home has been jailed for nine years. Thomas Lee John Harmer, aged 24 and of no fixed abode, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court to be sentenced on Friday 8 January 2021 after admitting offences of wounding with intent, burglary, possessing a bladed article, making off without payment ...

Clinicians and Public Health teams have written an open letter to the public asking for your help… Dear Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, We need your continued help, now. As set out in the Prime Minister’s announcement our NHS services are under great pressure. The new COVID-19 variant is spreading fast. We all need to play our part to ...

Dorset CCG reports that they are aware that some people are receiving suspicious calls and text messages offering the COVID-19 vaccination. To protect yourself and your family members from fraud and criminals, remember the following points: • The vaccine is only available on the NHS for free to people in priority groups, and the NHS will contact ...

Entries for the Dorchester and Poundbury Business Awards are now open. To nominate and to find out more click here: keep106.com/dorchester-poundbury-business-awards-2021/ Nigel Reeve, of the awards organisers Marketing West, said: “It’s time to look to the future and focus on getting business moving again. Our plan is to use the awards to promote the range of local ...

Two more mobile testing units have been added to the list of mobile coronavirus testing site locations for residents who need COVID-19 tests. Mobile coronavirus testing units will be available at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on Portland and Station Road Car Park in Sturminster Newton from 11 January. If any residents develop coronavirus symptoms: a ...

A man arrested in connection with a reported assault on a woman in Weymouth will face no further police action. At around 8.45am on Thursday 10 December 2020 Dorset Police was called to reports that a woman aged in her 20s had been assaulted on Dorchester Road. It was alleged that a man had got out of ...

People who received a device for Christmas and unsure how to use it are being urged to contact Dorset’s free Digital Hotline for help. The Dorset Council hotline is manned by a team of Digital Champion volunteers who have already helped hundreds of people get online. It is estimated that 150,000 people in Dorset lack basic digital ...

Officers searching for a missing man from Weymouth have very sadly found a body. Kenneth Rampton, aged 49, was last seen at his home address in the town at around 5.30am on Tuesday 5 January 2021. He spoke to a family member at around 2pm the same day and said he would return home around 9pm, ...

Free parking arrangements for NHS and care workers will remain in place throughout the current six-week lockdown. NHS and care workers can continue to use any Dorset Council-operated car park free of charge, provided they are on duty and displaying a relevant permit, or they have registered with Dorset Council. Originally run for a limited time early ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to take care if they smoke at home, and to make sure they have working smoke alarms. Firefighters were called to a property in Wollaston Road, Dorchester at 4.07pm on 5 January 2021, with three fire crews attending; one from Dorchester, one from Weymouth and one ...

This is the latest advice from Dorset Council: Following the announcement last night (4/1), here is the government’s latest advice for parents and carers: Schools and colleges in Dorset remain open for critical workers and vulnerable children, details of who is included is here.  Other children will move to remote learning. Early years settings, special schools, alternative provision and learning ...

Officers investigating a burglary and the attempted theft of vehicles on Portland are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 5.30am on Friday 1 January 2021 someone entered a house in Easton Street and took a set of keys. A blue Ford Focus that was parked on the road outside was ...

Detectives are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward following an attempted knifepoint robbery in Dorchester. At around 5.30pm on Thursday 31 December 2020 the victim – a local man aged in his 50s – was walking on South Walks when he was approached by a man who asked for directions. The man ...

For a fourth year, Weldmar Hospicecare’s Christmas Tree-cycle project returns, where you can book a collection for your real Christmas tree, in return for a suggested minimum donation of £10. The charity is delighted that this year the Christmas Tree-cycle is supported by Trinity St. Christmas Trees, who will be making the collections on their behalf ...

Local fire crews were called to a serious kitchen fire in Dorchester on Wednesday 30th December. Fire appliances were mobilised from Dorchester, Bere Regis and Weymouth to the established property fire. A spokesperson from Bere Regis fire station said: “From our appliance we used four firefighters with breathing apparatus inside the property. “Once the fire was under ...

Local residents in Weymouth, Poole and Christchurch are set to see increased access to testing with the introduction of walk-in ‘local testing sites’ (LTS). The walk-in testing sites will be located at: Swannery Car Park, Weymouth Dolphin Swimming Car Park, Poole Two Riversmeet Car Park, Christchurch These sites are already in use and are currently visited around twice a week ...

Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward after a man was fraudulently collecting money for charity in Dorchester. At around 12pm on Tuesday 22 December 2020 a man was standing on South Street collecting money in a bucket claiming to be on behalf of the ‘Food For Life’ charity. The man had photo ID ...

Following the Secretary of State’s announcement, the Dorset Council area will be moving to Tier 3 from Thursday 31 December. Tier 3 restrictions and guidance must be followed from Thursday 31 December, in a bid to reduce the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable people. In Tier 3 people must not mix indoors or outdoors in ...

Like most parts of the country, Dorset Council reports that they have seen a significant increase in case numbers and rates over the last couple of weeks and are also seeing a rise in hospital admissions. Here are the latest figures released today (29 December) for the Dorset Council area: 7 day case rates per 100,000: 120.2 ...

The A31 was partially closed following a road traffic collision when a McLaren sports car left the road hitting a tree. The police tweeted on 29/12/2020 “Please be careful on the roads this morning. There is still plenty of standing water around, causing a risk of aquaplaning. Unfortunately the driver of this vehicle found this out ...

A dog related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across the Dorset Council area comes into force on 1 January. For the first few weeks the council will focus on advice and guidance to dog-owners explaining the new rules. The order replaces a number of existing dog related PSPOs across the Dorset Council area. The intention is that ...

The A35 Puddletown bypass was closed this morning (Saturday 26 Dec) following a vehicle fire. Dorchester fire station said: “At 10:43am we were mobilised to reports of a car fire on the westbound section of the A35, Puddletown bypass. Upon arrival we got to work setting up a safe working area whilst two BA wearers dealt with ...

Following the Secretary of State’s announcement, Dorset Council and BCP Council areas will be remaining in Tier 2. But, the Government’s criteria for Tier allocations will be closely monitored over the coming days and weeks. Dr Jane Horne, Consultant in Public Health for Dorset and BCP Councils said: “Our case numbers of people testing positive to Covid-19 ...

A man has been cleared of a manslaughter charge in connection with the death of a man at an address in Weymouth. At 4.13pm on Saturday 4 April 2020 Dorset Police was called to a report of a possible assault at an address on Dorchester Road. Officers attended, along with the ambulance service, and found 32-year-old David ...

Officers investigating an incident in which a woman was bitten by a dog are appealing for the public’s help to identify the owner.  At around 3.30pm on Wednesday 2 December 2020 the victim – a woman aged in her 30s – was walking a friend’s Border Collie dog on Weymouth beach near to Avenue Road when ...

Dorset Council rangers have been checking on last week’s rockfall at Hive Beach. There has been no change in the situation, which means that the cliff and the fallen material is still unstable. People should stay away from the immediate area as a further fall or resettlement of the rocks now on the beach could happen at ...

COVID-19 testing sites will be open every day over Christmas and New Year. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms: a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change of taste or smell you must book a test. Book a COVID-19 test by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119. The following sites will be available to residents depending on where ...

Work will begin on Dorset County Hospital’s much anticipated multi-storey car park in January 2021 to kick-start a major expansion of clinical facilities. The hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Willmott Dixon, who will be undertaking the construction works. The multi-storey car park is the first phase of the development of the Dorchester hospital site ...

At 7.54am on Monday 21 December 2020 a collision occurred on the A35 at the Bloxworth junction involving a refuse lorry and a red Peugeot 2008. The driver of the Peugeot – a woman aged in her 50s and from the Bridport area – sustained serious injuries and was taken to Southampton General Hospital. Her condition ...

On his re-election as Mayor in May, one of Richard Biggs’ commitments for the year was to use part of his Mayoral Allowance to support those most affected by the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. The town is lucky to have a local charity, Dorchester Family Support, who provide essential food and advice to families who ...