News Archive

Dorset Police has seen a 5.1 per cent drop in recorded crime, according to new figures released today, Wednesday 28 October 2020. Data released by the Office for National Statistics, shows the Force has continued to see a drop in overall crime. In early 2020 Dorset received a ‘Good’ grading from HMICFRS for accurate crime recording, which ...

The Alcohol Education Trust (AET) reports that they have been successful in raising all the funds needed to complete the capital build of The Pavilion in the Park (PiP’s) on The Great Field on Poundbury. The eco friendly pavilion style building includes a community space, public loos, a café and office for The Alcohol Education ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is warning people to not let Halloween become scary for all the wrong reasons. Whilst this year’s Halloween celebrations will look a little different due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the fire risks remain the same. Every year on 31 October, children and adults are injured in accidents where candles or ...

A new film that captures the images, words, music and sounds that make up our rural landscape from Dorset to Northumberland. At a time of isolation, rural touring schemes up and down the country had to work creatively to continue their connection with rural communities including Artsreach, Dorset’s own rural touring charity. The enforced pause to ...

Age UK North, South & West Dorset (NSWD) invites older people to an online art class taster session on 10 November at 11am. The free taster session will last for an hour and will give older people the opportunity to meet the tutor, and see if they would like to take part in a further six, ...

A nine-year-old boy from Dorchester has been named regional winner in an annual contest designed to help young people consider a career in the NHS. Aaron Miah, a pupil at Leweston Prep School near Sherborne, was inspired by the NHS staff who helped his little brother, and used his creativity to write a heartfelt poem saying ...

Dorset Police is to be become one of the first forces in the country to use new technology to remotely transfer fingerprints for analysis directly from crime scenes. This new technology is one of a number of projects being run by the Forensic Capability Network (FCN), which is a new national network dedicated to improving forensic ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) is reminding people about how quickly thatched roofs can catch fire, following an incident last night that affected two homes. Fire crews from across Dorset were mobilised to Poxwell, near Weymouth, at 6.43pm last night (22 October) after a kitchen fire in a semi-detached cottage spread to the ...

BBC nature documentary filmed at Dorset school. For four months during the summer of 2019, cutting-edge night vision cameras and ultrasonic detectors from the BBC were focussed on a greater horseshoe bat roost at Bryanston School near Blandford in Dorset. The remarkable journey into the secret world of one of the country’s most endangered animals ...

Leading doctors and nurses are making a joint appeal for help to stop the spread of COVID-19, save lives, and protect each other. All local medical directors and nursing directors across Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are making the call in a new open letter. The letter is also signed by the Director for Public Health. In their ...

The Coroner for Dorset is seeking the assistance of the public to find the next of kin of a man who died in Weymouth. Mark Haylock, who was 59 years old, died at his home address in Cromwell Road on Saturday 17 October 2020. The coroner’s office is making enquiries into this matter, which is not being ...

Three more ‘cultural gems’ have been awarded support through the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, making that eleven organisations, charities and tourism destinations, and a total of £865,000 in grants, announced in the past week. Chris Loder MP, who lobbied the Government in particular on behalf of Bridport’s iconic Electric Palace, built in 1926 by local ...

Protesters rallied and marched through Dorchester on Saturday (17 Oct) demanding higher pay for NHS staff. The protest which was covered by BBC reporter Edward Sault and a film crew and saw them urging the Government to reconsider the current pay offer in light of the rising pay for MPs. Prior to the demonstration NHS dietitian and ...

Changes are being brought in across the Dorset Council area to make car parking charges more consistent. From early next year, drivers using any Dorset Council car park will be charged for parking 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday. This extends the chargeable period by two hours in most areas and introduces paying to park on ...

Grant funding and technical support for Dorset organisations to reduce their carbon emissions will continue for another two years thanks to additional funding of over £5m secured by Dorset Council. The funding, provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), will extend the Council’s existing three-year Low Carbon Dorset programme by a further two years until ...

Dorset Council will be broadcasting live online from 5pm on Thursday, 22 October, to give the latest update on COVID in Dorset and to answer residents’ questions. Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health Dorset, and Matt Prosser, Chief Executive of Dorset Council, will host the event. Sam Crowe will give a briefing on the latest number ...

For the past 32 years volunteers have been called into action to collect, sort and deliver around 30,000 Christmas cards throughout Dorchester and West Dorset! This has been a major fund-raising activity for our District and the village groups which participate in the Scout Post scheme, with volunteers walking through rain, wind and snow to get ...

People in Dorset are being urged to act now to reduce the likelihood of a future major spike in cases and the need for more local restrictions. The warning has been made by Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health for Dorset and BCP Councils, following the recent increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Dorset. Sam ...

Allied Health Professions (AHP) day takes place on 14 October, celebrating the work of AHPs across the country and their contribution to care. This year local partners will be marking the day by sharing comments from those working in AHP roles about the work of their colleagues, and highlight the range of opportunities available in AHP ...

As part of the Fire Kills campaign, fire and rescue services across the country are asking people to take care this Candle Fire Safety Week (12-18 October) and snuff out the risk of fire in their homes. With winter fast approaching, a few candles scattered round the room can lend a warm glow to an evening ...

Dorchester Arts has today been awarded £52,710 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure a sustainable future. Dorchester Arts is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been ...

Dorset County Museum is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector ...

Officers investigating a spate of damage to vehicles and a property in Weymouth are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Dorset Police was called on the morning of Saturday 10 October 2020 to reports that seven vehicles and six front doors had been damaged along Great George Street. The offenders had slashed the tyres ...

Dorset’s amazing children in care and their wonderful foster families have been celebrated at the Dorset Star Awards. The awards, which are hosted by Dorset Council, celebrate our children’s achievements, as well as recognising the great work done by our foster families. This year the awards had to be virtual, but 87 certificates celebrating children’s successes were ...

Officers investigating a road traffic collision near Bridport are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. Dorset Police received a report at 9.32am on Saturday 10 October 2020 of a collision involving a blue Peugeot 307 and a black Volvo V60 on the A35 at Charmouth near to the junction with ...

Patrols have been conducted this week along the alleyway running between Coburg Road and Cambridge Road in Dorchester. This was following reports of anti social behaviour. In a statement Dorchester Police said; “Targeted patrols will continue in this location.” These patrols are part of an ongoing campaign which uses the hashtag #DoYouKnowWhereYourChildrenAre on social media.

Shire Hall is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive a lifesaving financial boost from the government thanks to the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. 445 organisations will share £103 million, including Shire Hall to help restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on cherished heritage ...

Luciano Pierre White proudly announces the launch of his first Italian restaurant, as the young chef opens his first venue at Dorchester’s Brewery Square. Luccio’s is Luciano Pierre White’s first business venture, promising classic Italian cuisine at affordable prices, together with a friendly service. The menu features dishes including ‘Maria Rosa Meatballs’ – the name of ...

The Dorset Intelligence and Insight Service (DiiS) has been shortlisted for the 2020 Institute of Collaborative Working (ICW) Collaborative Working Awards. Working across all healthcare partners in Dorset, the DiiS provides insights and analytics to help with planning and system resilience. The data can be used to identify trends at a community level as part of ...

Dorset Council in partnership with Weymouth Town Council, are carrying out works to Weymouth’s main town beach next week. This is partly due to the change in beach profile caused by Storm Alex, and as part of routine management to prepare the beach for the winter period. Heavy plant will be used to adjust profiles and crest ...

Officers investigating a series of thefts from vehicles near Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. Overnight between Tuesday 6 October and Wednesday 7 October 2020 four vehicles were broken into in Puddletown. Power tools were stolen from all four vehicles. Police Sergeant Andy Napper, of Dorchester Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “An investigation ...

Officers investigating a burglary at a home in Weymouth are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. The burglary occurred at a home in Knightsdale Road between 10pm on Tuesday 22 September and 6.45am on Wednesday 23 September 2020. While the occupants were asleep upstairs, entry was gained and a black Acer laptop, a graphite HP ...

Covid-19 has meant a flagship road safety programme aimed at Year 11-13 students is being delivered differently this year. Safe Drive Stay Alive, which is coordinated by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) on behalf of Dorset Road Safe and Wiltshire & Swindon Road Safety Partnership, has gone digital to ensure its hard-hitting messages ...

Officers investigating a road rage incident near Blandford are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. At around 4.50pm on Monday 28 September 2020 it is reported that a road rage incident occurred involving a white Ford Fiesta and a blue Tesla on the A350 at Stourpaine. At the traffic lights near ...

This October, Litter Free Dorset have collaborated with Litter Free Coast and Sea, Wimborne War on Waste and Litter Free Purbeck to launch the ‘Bin Your Butt’ campaign to tackle the issue of cigarette-related litter. Litter Free Dorset aims to increase awareness that: • Cigarette filters are the biggest plastic polluters – they do not readily biodegrade ...

It’s understood that the local branch has just 7 customers using it, regularly, each week. With more and more facilities now available electronically and the shift to these online services: 83% of their business customers at the branch have either used other forms of banking such as online, mobile or telephone banking or visited another branch. However ...

Are you worried about not being able to go back to your previous employment? Do you care about people and want to make a difference? The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a major impact on the economy globally, nationally and in Dorset. Relative to the UK, Dorset has a higher share of employment, output and businesses ...

In line with the national trend, Public Health Dorset data shows that cases have risen in the Dorset Council area. Although numbers are now higher, the increase does seem to be levelling off. Public Health Dorset continue to monitor all of the data to understand the current picture. In the period 22-28 Sept 2020 there were ...

A significant amount of rainfall and very strong winds, reaching up to 65mph along coastal areas, are expected from 3am Friday morning through to 8pm that evening. Then a further warning for more very heavy rain from 3am Saturday morning through to 6pm on Sunday evening. Dorset Council and the Environment Agency will monitor roads prone ...

One of the most distinctive prep schools in the South West has confirmed a series of new initiatives to broaden access to pupils from a wide range of backgrounds and further develop its long and successful relationship with its close neighbour, Bryanston. Marking 70 years since its formation, the new announcements from Knighton House School ...

Dorset Police has unveiled its new police boat – ‘Buccaneer’ at a small launch event attended by the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner. The new 11m rigid inflatable boat is used by the Force Support Group – a small team of specially trained marine police officers to patrol Dorset’s 98 miles of coastline. Weighing in ...

After cancelled exams and months of remote learning students have returned to education, many starting new courses at college and university. However, for some the new term has brought unexpected costs with a need to buy text books, resources and equipment. The Ashley, Churchill & Thorner Educational Trust (ACTET) is appealing to the young people of Dorchester ...

Officers from Dorset Council’s Waste Enforcement team are looking for those responsible for fly-tipping large amounts of meat in and around Wareham. In recent weeks, there have been several incidents of large white dumpy bags of both raw and cooked meat being fly-tipped in East Stoke and Bere Regis. Members of the public reported the dumped waste ...

The most outstanding individuals and institutions that the education sector has to offer have been recognised in the shortlist for the Tes Schools Awards 2020. It’s been revealed that Edd Moore from Damers First School has been shortlisted for the Environment Champion of the Year award. Tes editor Ann Mroz said: “It is always a highlight of ...

Drivers visiting Weymouth town centre this Autumn are being asked to think more carefully about how to access the town centre as track removal work gets underway. The first phase of work will start on Monday 5 October to remove the tracks along Commercial Road, from King Street to Lower St. Alban Street, which will take ...

Officers investigating an incident where a man was bitten by a dog in North Dorset are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 6.45pm on Thursday 10 September 2020 a man aged in his 40s was walking his elderly Golden Retriever near the airfield at Compton Abbas when his dog was ...

Teachers dressed as farmers, livestock on site and a giant tractor greeted children at The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester as they arrived at school on Monday 28th September 2020. Deputy Headteacher, Miss Ann Johnson explains, ‘It was all in aid of launching our ‘Food and Farming Fortnight’, an annual event here at The ...

One of the most respected figures from the world of education in Dorset has received a top national award in recognition of his dedication and invaluable contribution to the personal and academic development of thousands of pupils over the past four decades. Peter Hardy, former Second Master of Bryanston School near Blandford, has been presented ...

Robots growing fields of wheat, the tiger who came to tea and virtual yoga: these are just some of the exciting sessions on offer for free at the upcoming Festival of the Future from 13 October. This brand-new virtual event combines fun and learning and helps us share the great things that are happening in Dorset. ...

Dorset residents are being urged to step forward and volunteer to be part of the community response to COVID-19 as cases start to rise nationally again. Volunteer Centre Dorset is looking for new volunteers to come forward and register to help support people who are struggling because of the coronavirus outbreak. Cases are low in Dorset compared ...

Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s disability charity, has launched a new fundraising event, in line with the current government guidelines; Come Dine With Us encourages everyone to host an intimate black tie dinner within their own homes on Saturday 28 November. Groups of up to six can book from two ticket types; £50 for a three-course meal and ...

People at risk of flu in Dorset are being called onto protect themselves, their families and those they care for against it this Winter. The local NHS and Public Health Dorset have joined forces to make the appeal that the flu vaccine is the best protection for you and those around you. It’s available for free ...

Stand Up to Racism Dorset has been informed of a decision made by the Parochial Church Council at its meeting on 23 September. This decision, as we understand it, is that the plaque, at St Peters, will be covered up in a matter of days. It will later be removed: the formal process for removal has ...

Dorset Reclaim, a charity which provides low income families with access to affordable furniture and white goods, successfully applied for a £20,000 grant from the Talbot Village Trust COVID-19 Support Fund. As families were being rehomed into unfurnished accommodation in order to self-isolate during lockdown, the demand for basic household goods has increased throughout the pandemic. Since ...

It is with extreme sadness that organisers of the 33rd Dorchester Beerex; West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary must announce the cancelation of the 2021 event due to the current Covid 19 pandemic. The Beerex committee discussed the possibility and avenues of an event later next year but felt with things ...

Officers investigating a series of break-ins at an industrial estate in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. Between 9pm on Sunday 20 September and 3am on Monday 21 September 2020 five commercial premises on the Granby Industrial Estate were broken into and various items taken. The stolen items include a quantity ...

Following the formation of the unitary authority of Dorset Council in 2019, the Harbours Committee are looking ahead as to how Weymouth, Bridport (West Bay) and Lyme Regis Harbours will develop over the next 10 years. The Dorset Coast Forum are leading this work on behalf of Dorset Council and want your views and ideas ...

Sherborne Town Ladies played against Bournemouth Sports in the Preliminary Round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup on Sunday 20th September. A big game for both teams, Bournemouth Sports have played Sherborne in previous pre-season friendlies but have yet to win or score against Sherborne so this game would be tough opposition despite winning 21-0 ...

Children and staff at The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester held a Non-School Uniform Day in aid of Dorset County Hospital’s ‘COVID-19 Appeal’ on Friday 18th September 2020. Children and staff came to school dressed as “Key Workers” with examples including doctors, nurses, supermarket workers, teachers, cleaners and refuse collectors to name just a few. Headteacher, ...

Officers who were trying locate a man following a concern for welfare due to a fire near Bere Regis are pleased to be able to update that he has been identified and found. At 11.30pm on Friday 18 September 2020, Dorset Police received a report from the fire service about a barn fire in Throop and ...