Dozens of firefighters tackled a barn blaze at Langton Matravers, near Swanage last night Eyewitnesses said at least four fire engines tackled the blaze at Coombe Hill. One 73-year-old resident said: “It’s a massive fire – the flames
WIMBORNE’S hopes of avoiding the drop took a turn for the worst when fellow strugglers Wallingford truimphed 16-10 at Leigh Park. All Blacks were punished for a slow start in the South West One East clash and trailed 16-0 early in the second half. James
STURMINSTER Marshall boss Matt Morris has slammed “disrespectful” rivals Westland Sports following their 3-2 triumph over the Yeovil side at Churchill Close on Saturday. The hosts claimed the three points thanks to a Sam Goodwin brace and a
PETER Kennedy is calling for a major restructure of league rugby in a bid to cut club’s running costs. North Dorset’s highly-respected chief wants to see more teams in each division below National Three level. Kennedy also wants to see the return of
SWANAGE & Wareham held off a spirited late Buckingham fight back to win 17-13 at Floyd Field. The Purbeck outfit stretched their impressive unbeaten run to 10 games with tries from Charlie Parish, Daffyd Wright and Ollie Andrews. Phil Graves slotted
RIAD Lynch became the first Bournemouth prop to chalk up a league hat-trick as they battered Cleve 65-5 at The Hayfields. The former Havant and Wimborne forward scored a genuine triple, diving over either side of the break to score three successive touchdowns
E-BOOKS and mobile libraries may replace the 20 Dorset libraries facing closure, unless community groups take them over, possibly charging for books. More than 13,000 people have signed a petition demanding that Dorset County Council holds
A CHARITY wants help catching thieves who are stealing up to half its collection bags. The Winton branch of the PDSA in Bournemouth said its distinctive pink bags are being taken by people in unmarked vans. Manager Julie Little said
PIRATES new boy Kyle Newman paid tribute to Chris Holder for riding through the pain barrier and clinching a third Australian Championship title. Holder shrugged off injuries to his shoulder, neck and arm to finish tenth in the final round at Mildura
HE’S not your average fare dodger, so rail staff were astonished to see this little chap hurtling along the platform without a ticket. The hamster, believed to be around one year old, was rescued at Branksome railway station earlier this month. Vet
A 28-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court charged with the murder of 20-year-old Kewen Khorsheed in Moordown. Mahmud Ibrahim Bakir appeared before magistrates on Monday but a court order banned the Daily Echo from identifying the victim, charges
A MAN arrested following the horror smash that killed a strolling couple at Sandbanks in September has had his bail extended. The 33-year-old, detained on suspicion of driving offences in the wake of the Banks Road crash, will answer bail again at the
FOOTBALL fans claim they are being targeted by parking attendants during AFC Bournemouth matches. Supporters of away teams in particular say that cars have been ticketed at the Kings Park Lorry Park, adjacent to the Dean Court stadium.
FORMER Poole mayor and well-known fundraiser Bernard Ewart has died at the age of 65. He passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, having battled lung cancer during the last year, and in his final weeks was raising funds for the Poole Hospital unit
THE call of an excited chimpanzee rang out in Bournemouth’s Central Gardens yesterday. It came, not from an ape, but from the town’s world-renowned environmental campaigner Dr Jane Goodall, who had just had a tree planted in her honour.
THE second Swanage Comedy Festival line-up has been announced. Established radio and TV star Bob Mills will join newcomers Ellis James and Sean Percival on the main night of the three-day festival. Organiser and vice-chairman of the Swanage and Purbeck
THIS stunning image of this morning's golden sunrise is just one of dozens we've seen across the internet. It was taken by Flickr regular Rich Meston, who says: "It was one of those mornings when as soon as I stepped into the kitchen
A MOTORCYCLIST was seriously injured in a collision off Winton shopping centre in Bournemouth yesterday. The collision between a motorcycle and a blue Vauxhall Corsa car happened at the junction of Alma Road and Waterloo Road at around 12.09pm. The
THE last place you would expect to see a raccoon is in the middle of a Ringwood housing estate. So photographer, John Rothwell, was amazed when he snapped a raccoon in the back garden of his home in Poulner just after midnight. John,
AS A child, I drifted off to sleep many a night with a bedtime tale. It was part of my nightly ritual and I have fond memories of my mum reading tales from 365 Bedtime Stories, a book that had a yarn for every day of the year. As well as sending me
Fairies and fun, A Midsummer Night’s Dream has them all. So, little wonder this enchanting play is one of the most popular ever written. The Bard’s comedy gets a magical transformation from Shakespeare 4 Kidz, whose musical version visits the
I USED to read one book time and time again as a boy. It was called Knight Crusader and I relished it. But I only discovered it because I belonged to our local library. Each week I’d cycle down to it and borrow Knight Crusader and a couple
A JURY yesterday heard that CCTV from Alan Pickersgill’s Southbourne flat showed absolutely no sexual activity between him and Julie Bywater, the woman he is accused of murdering. Winchester Crown Court was also shown footage from the cameras
MARVIN Bartley’s transfer to Burnley has been rubber stamped, the Daily Echo can confirm. Bartley's move to Turf Moor had been in the balance after paperwork had apparently failed to meet last night's 11pm deadline. The 24-year-old had
I NOTICED this week that the speed limit on Dorset Way has been reduced from 70mph to 50mph. I also noticed that not many people are sticking to this limit and no doubt revenue-raising cameras will soon be installed. Surely speed limits should be reasonable
I AM glad to read in Daily Echo letters local residents speaking up to improve Upper Parkstone. The endless littering in Ashley Road is particularly awful. This has got far worse with cigarette smokers leaving hundreds of cigarette ends on the pavement
OUR dear friend Bernard – a special person who came into our lives a few years ago and brought fun and laughter to all members and helpers of the Blue Dolphin Club, a club for adults with learning disabilities. He has been a great asset to the club and
I DEPLORE those critics who continually carp about the way the Home Secretary dresses and wish they would direct their venom towards the more sinister garbs seen in Britain today. It's a Hobson’s Choice for Theresa May, who can’t win, whatever
THERE is a secret phenomenon which is whispered around campfires all over the African bush. Known only to an elite group of big-game hunters and safari guides, and endemic in East Africa, ‘Khaki Fever’ is condition where women can’t help but fall
I DECIDED four years ago to home a rescue dog, perhaps a little naively on my part thinking I could offer him a loving environment. My friend has been attacked five times by loose-running dogs in the same vicinity. The last attack on Thursday was particular
AS a Hamworthy Ward councillor and resident, I was horrified when recently I obtained a draft plan for Poole Harbour Commissioners’ proposals for the modification and extension of Poole Yacht Club, providing more than 1,000 new yacht berths, new road,
PLEASE, please print this letter so there may be a very slim chance, for the sake of my sanity, that the general public news people and countless others, stop using the word “ISSUES” which has come straight from America. We do seem, in this country,
IN response to Highcliffe and Mudeford tourism group chairman Bob Denney’s comments about the Premier Inn, the reason why B and Bs are empty is because they are usually overpriced and shabby, with questionable plumbing. My job takes me all over the UK
I AM writing this in extreme anger and I only hope that this is included as a warning to others. At approximately 18.15 hrs, while walking my dog on a lead in the small park area off Columbia Road in Bournemouth, I noticed somebody with a dog off-lead
WHAT a difference a name makes. A few years ago Henry’s restaurant in Canford Cliffs became Harry’s and was given a makeover on a scale that Gok Wan would be proud of. Every time we pass the place in Haven Road it always looks so inviting so when we
This property has to be one of Bournemouth’s most delightful and distinctive properties incorporating the original 1804 house and a detached gardener’s cottage. Set in approximately three acres of private grounds with unrivalled river frontage, Throop
NEW crime maps designed to show you exactly how many offences have been committed in your street have gone live this morning. But the site crashed almost immediately after logging more than 75,000 hits per second. The maps are intended to
THE Daily Echo has been banned from publishing any details of four men arrested in connection with the death of a man in the Moordown area of Bournemouth. Four men have been arrested but a court order bars the media from revealing any details
PARKING restrictions that were brought in to stop town-centre workers leaving their cars in Meyrick Park have never been enforceable, Bournemouth council has admitted. In 2001 a four-hour restriction was brought in at the park, meaning drivers
CHOCOLATE PUDS WITH WARM CHOCOLATE SAUCE 100g golden caster sugar 2 eggs 100g dark chocolate melted 170ml double cream to make a sauce Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Mix the flour, cocoa and almonds. Cream the butter and sugar, then add
CHERRIES loan star Adam Smith looked back on a hectic January and admitted: “It was certainly an experience.” Defender Smith extended his stay from Tottenham just days before Eddie Howe – the man who had signed him – left for Burnley. The 19-year-old
POPPIES new boy Dan Taylor won’t be lining up against his former team Christchurch tonight following a pact between the club’s managers. The two sides go head to head |at Victoria Park in a Wessex League Premier Division clash (7.45pm). But Taylor misses
AS always at the start of the year, the movie world will be focused on the Oscars, but British film lovers shouldn’t worry as there’s plenty of local talent to keep the competition interesting. The King’s Speech, which hit cinemas in the first
LIVID Cherries chief Eddie Mitchell has come out fighting after reluctantly agreeing to sell midfielder Marvin Bartley to Burnley. Mitchell has fired a broadside at the Championship outfit and former Cherries boss Eddie Howe over their pursuit
WARREN Cummings has set his sights on helping Cherries claim back-to-back promotions after being appointed club captain. Cummings has been handed the position by new management team Lee Bradbury and Steve Fletcher, the latter relinquishing the role following
MATT Tubbs insists Crawley’s giant-killers only have to look at Exeter and Burton to see what can be achieved at Old Trafford. The Grecians and Brewers have both held Premiership giants Manchester United to goalless draws at The Theatre of Dreams in
LIAM Green launched an eloquent defence of Alex Browne and admitted Wimborne’s under-performing players felt they had let down their manager. Rumours over the weekend suggested that Browne had resigned following Magpies’ eighth consecutive Southern League
