News Archive

Story and photos by Idris Martin. Local residents who live on a previously quiet estate in West Bay are up in arms about their lives being blighted by visitors who have been using Buttercup Way and Bramble Drive as car parks since Dorset County Council raised the parking charges in the area and have erected a ...

Officers investigating an assault are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 12pm on Wednesday 12 June 2024 a woman was walking along the Rodwell Trail and had just passed under Buxton Road when she saw four people who are known to her. It is reported that the woman – aged in ...

A celebrity auctioneer will be holding a valuation day at a care home in Dorchester next month. Paul Martin, who presented BBC1 show Flog It for nearly 20 years, is visiting Maiden Castle House care home on Gloucester Road on Wednesday 3 July for a free valuation day event, which is open to members of the ...

A trial reduction of charges in three Dorset Council car parks is to take place this summer and early autumn. The car parks are located in the main coastal towns: Swannery in Weymouth, West Bay Road in West Bay, and Charmouth Road in Lyme Regis. From 1 July until 31 October 2024, the tariffs in these car ...

Jason Leonard RFU Under 20 County Rugby Championship result: East Midlands 20 pts v Dorset & Wilts 18, at Twickenham. The Dorset and Wilts youngsters’ attempt to lift the trophy for the first time after suffering two previous losses ended in another defeat. However, the result could have gone either way and in the end, the ...

Police officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward as they investigate a report of threatening behaviour in Weymouth. It is reported that between 9.20am and 9.30am on Thursday 13 June 2024, a man made verbal threats of violence toward a woman in the Aldi supermarket in Link Park in Chickerell. The man ...

Our reporter Idris Martin tells us that a Saudi super yacht has been spotted in Weymouth Bay. The super yacht is owned by Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, the founder and chairman of the Middle East Broadcasting Centre, also known as MBC Group. The vessel dropped anchor in Weymouth Bay on Wednesday afternoon, June 12th, having arrived ...

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery is excited to announce that Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, D.L., the multi award-winning screenwriter, actor, novelist and director, will be presenting himself for election as President of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (DNHAS)this autumn. The DHNAS is immensely grateful to Lady Susan Bradbury who is standing down after ...

Police officers investigating an indecent exposure incident in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. It was reported that between 4pm and 5pm on Thursday 6 June 2024 a group of three teenagers witnessed a man exposing himself on the footpath that runs behind the Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre between Newstead ...

Police officers investigating an assault in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. Between 10.15am and 10.30am on Sunday 2 June 2024 a man – aged in his 30s – was in the park at Kings Road when an unknown man approached him. It is reported that the man was assaulted with ...

Atheletes from West Dorset Swimming Club will be setting themselves a challenge on Sunday July 14th as they embark on a (virtual) swim of the English Channel. Each swimmer will be sponsored in order to raise funds for new equipment at their home pool, the 1610 Sports Centre in Coburg Road, Dorchester. The team’s current starting blocks ...

Dorset is gearing up for the general election on July 4 and if you’re unsure about voter registration, postal and proxy votes, and voter ID, Dorset Council have all the information you need here: dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/councillors-committees-elections/elections-and-voting Writs have been delivered to all local authorities across the UK representing the 650 constituencies at Westminster. The election includes Members of Parliament ...

Get ready to enjoy the spectacular 2024 Sunflower Trails at Maiden Castle Farm – and all the other Sunflower events being planned in and around Dorchester this summer. All the fundraising events will be supporting Dorset County Hospital’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal. The sunflower seeds have been planted, now it’s time to watch them grow and ...

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 1.54am on Wednesday 29 May 2024 that a man aged in his 30s had been assaulted in the underpass by Westham Bridge. It was reported that the victim had been jabbed ...

Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre (WOEC) is celebrating 60 years of improving the lives of Dorset Children and young people with a special open day in July with lots of activities on offer. Over the past 60 years, tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of children have been introduced to a brilliant range of outdoor ...

Seventeen-year-old defender Harry Redknapp Junior, who last season completed a successful loan spell at Dorchester Football Club, has signed for the Magpies on a permanent deal for the 2024/25 season. Redknapp Junior was recently released by Premier League club AFC Bournemouth. Weymouth Football Club’s Under 23 manager, Craig Adams, has parted company with the Terras. Dorset Cricket Results. T ...

Dorset Police received a report at 1.57pm on Thursday 6 June 2024 of a collision in High Street, Wyke Regis, Weymouth involving a blue Skoda Octavia that had collided with two parked vehicles and a pedestrian. Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward as they investigate the serious injury ...

Dorset Police received a report at 6.23pm on Thursday 6 June 2024 of a single vehicle collision on Portesham Hill involving a silver Suzuki SX4. Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward following a fatal road traffic collision near Portesham. Emergency services attended and very sadly the driver – a ...

“Improving your financial situation has never been so important”, says CAP money coach Dick Howard. “With food costs and energy bills remaining high, it’s a really worrying time. Taking control of your money can help you feel more at ease and lessen the stress of the cost of living crisis.” A local church is offering free ...

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 ...