BRITISH Heart Foundation chiefs are urging caution after collection bags with heart motifs were distributed to homes across Swanage. Messages on these bags ask residents to donate unwanted clothing, blankets, shoes, toys, cosmetics and even
A HOSPITAL trust has had “huge success” in finding savings, according to its boss, who has pledged that Christchurch Hospital would not be sold off to raise cash. Tony Spotswood was questioned by residents over the future of health services in Bournemouth
THERE must have been no room at the inn when Goldie the cat gave birth to five kittens. Instead, the tabby found a tiny space in a West Parley garden centre’s roof. Surprised Golden Acres staff heard cries coming from above their computer
PRE-TEEN firebugs are thought to be behind a blaze at public toilets in Poole. Police believe two boys, aged around 12, filled a small ventilation duct with paper and lit it at Branksome recreation ground toilets at around 5.20pm on Thursday, March 3
STREET parties to celebrate the upcoming royal wedding have been made easier by Dorset County Council. As the nation plans its celebrations for when Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot, anyone planning a street party in the county
AWARD-winning wildlife photographer Ben Osborne is bringing his exhibition, highlighting the wonders of Purbeck’s Jurassic Coast, to Langton Matravers. Ben, voted wildlife photographer of the year in 2007, spent almost two years collaborating on the
A PUBLIC inquiry will decide the fate of a former RAF camp on the edge of the New Forest. In the latest round of a long-running planning battle, Martin Baily who jointly owns the former domestic quarters of RAF Sopley, now named Merryfield Park, has
BEDS of beautiful blooms are to be grassed over in Poole in a bid to save cash. There will be no colourful display of five Olympic rings greeting visitors to Poole Park through next summer. And the display bed inside the Kingland Road
AN ANTI-hunt campaigner has won a landmark legal battle to have his animal rights views treated in the workplace in the same way as religious beliefs. Joe Hashman from Shaftesbury claimed he was sacked from Orchard Park Garden Centre in Gillingham because
TEMPERS flared at a public meeting on the future of Portland Coastguard station. More than 150 people turned out to show their support for the coastguard station at the meeting in Portland on Tuesday night. The meeting, which was often punctuated by
FOOTBALL manager Harry Redknapp has launched a new “buy a brick” appeal to help raise funds for the new Lewis-Manning Hospice. Sandbanks’ most famous resident is urging people to get behind the Echo-backed campaign, and help the charity raise £2.5million
This meat free pie recipe comes courtesy of the Vegetarian Society. Serves 4 Ale and Mushroom Puff Pastry Pie with Champ 100g margarine 2 large bunches spring onions 550g small chestnut mushrooms 1 tbsp cornflour
DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after a Bournemouth off-licence was robbed twice in eight days. A shop assistant at East Howe Food and Wine in East Howe Lane was threatened by a raider who fled with a large quantity of cigarettes at around 8am
ONE of the most successful pieces of serial music, Berg’s Violin Concerto, avoids notoriety by virtue of its lyrical leanings. Sergey Khachatryan’s tenderly reflective account drew upon Webern’s inspiration of dedicating it ‘To the Memory of an Angel
A WOMAN had to be dug out of mud on the seafront at Chewton Bunny, near Waterford Road, Highcliffe, Christchurch, yesterday. The 56-year-old sunk up to her thighs at around 5.10pm and was stuck for 45 minutes before fire crews could rescue her.
EVER more over 55s are struggling with debt, with some facing mortgage repayments into their 80s, a Poole advice service has revealed. Following a national survey which found nearly a third of older people are in debt, with 15 per cent worried
LET’S all do the conga, let’s all do the conga. La la la la! – songwriter, performer and filmmaker Anthony Bygraves reckons he has the perfect way to celebrate British Tourism Week in Bournemouth. Anthony, son of veteran entertainer Max Bygraves, is
THEY are not always the most inviting of places, but the plug could soon be pulled on public toilets. Local authorities nationwide have been consulting on plans to shut down their loos as they struggle to make ends meet. Councillors in Shropshire have
MONEY management lessons were brought to life when students took part in a Junior Apprentice-style event at Bournemouth’s Bishop of Winchester Academy. With guidance from NatWest MoneySense for Schools representatives, they were split into groups and
HAIRDRESSING students received an inspirational talk and demonstration from the one of the trade’s top stylists. Patrick Cameron is best known for his skills with long hair and took time out of his busy schedule to officially open Bournemouth and Poole
TWO Dorset MPs have yet to register a single question in Parliament since they were elected last year. Conservatives Richard Drax and Bob Walter have also contributed to just a handful of Commons debates since the May election. By contrast
BOURNEMOUTH’S Lib Dems are asking not to be judged on the performance of the coalition government, instead, we should judge them on what they have done in Bournemouth (Echo, March 5). In 2003 the Lib Dems swept into power in Bournemouth promising to
THIS letter is in answer to Councillor Cooper’s letter about the new Boundary Road crossing. I stand by that this crossing is in the wrong place. Someone is going to get injured or killed, because traffic races up this road at 60mph or more. It would
COUNCILLOR WOODCOCK defends the size of Poole council’s Communication Service Unit (Daily Echo letters, March 2, 2011), but isn’t there something missing in his account? Has perhaps some vital part of his communiqué been inadvertently cut by the Daily
THERE was a cartoon featuring a garden centre, I’m told, that appeared in the Spectator and read: “Do you have anything that will kill Alan Titchmarsh?” I know, I know. He’s a lovely man and a national treasure but the cartoon, I hope, was
I READ with interest that Richard Lockyer speaking to Bournemouth Council complained about visitors using their bus passes (Echo March 5). Mr Lockyer must recognise that it is a case of swings and roundabouts. Before the free bus passes, when my wife
BY the mid-19th century, gas street lights became a feature of towns and villages in England. The illumination reduced crime and enabled factories to remain in production after dark. Gas lamps feature in photographs of old Swanage. A famous one is in
I SOMETIMES run round Meyrick Park at lunchtime. Many people walk their dogs in Meyrick Park, and most of the dogs are well-behaved, but most days when I run at least one dog will jump up at me aggressively. Today one jumped up and scratched and bit
Bournemouth Council has proudly announced that it is giving £10,000 of taxpayers money to St Peter’s Church to improve the church grounds. This on the day the Echo led on a story highlighting food poverty and the dramatic increase in the number of people
CLLR Phil Stanley-Watts in Bournemouth raises the matter of the wedding of William Windsor and Kate Middleton and the prospect of street parties. To get some context here councillor, would you like to reflect on what else is going on in the
TEACHERS are at risk of redundancy at Poole’s new St Aldhelm’s Academy. Senior staff have warned they are considering axing at least six classroom-based teachers as well as possibly cutting overtime and hours. A memo to staff, seen by
EXETER boss Paul Tisdale is convinced belief and a strong work ethic will stand Cherries in good stead for the run-in – and has diplomatically tipped “two south coast clubs” for automatic promotion. Tisdale plotted Cherries’ first defeat under new management
EDDIE Mitchell has sounded out a defiant message to Southampton ahead of the south coast ‘cup final’ by telling Cherries’ League One rivals: “We don’t fear you or any other club in this division.” Chairman Mitchell was responding after Southampton
PIRATES chief Matt Ford has admitted his relief after Renat Gafurov was given permission to ride in Britain for two years. The Russian received the news he would be able to line up for Poole Castle Cover this term during a visit to the British
POOLE traders say they fear for the future of the High Street as more shops close and plans emerge for yet another takeaway. There are already 14 food and drink outlets on the stretch between North Street and Old Orchard, as well as 11 empty units and
AROUND 200 people packed out Swanage’s St Mary’s Church on Wednesday to attend the memorial service for talented musician Jesse Jones. Jesse, described as one of life’s true individuals, disappeared after a night out with friends in Swanage
ONE lane of the A31 westbound remains closed this morning after a diesel spill yesterday afternoon. Resurfacing work to the inside lane at Cadnam, just after the Stoney Cross services, is still being carried out after the spill, which happened
