EXETER Road and Bath Road in Bournemouth town centre have been shut due to a lamppost coming down amid the strong winds. Police said firefighters have been on scene at the lamppost opposite the Royal Bath Hotel trying to clear the road. The
WIMBORNE was put on the map after a new tourism heritage sign was unveiled in the Square. The colourful display, designed by East Dorset District Council’s graphics team, highlights places of interest as well as offering a flavour of the town’s
A BOURNEMOUTH University student has scooped a top prize at an animation festival in Miami. Leo Crane, who graduated with a distinction from the MA 3D Computer Animation course, won the accolade at industry conference the MIA Animation Festival
CHAIR of governors Sharon Eldridge has one son still at the school, and a second who is now in sixth form at Queen Elizabeth’s School. “Allenbourn is a very inclusive school. Both of my sons have really benefited from being here.” MUM Amanda Howarth
CHILDREN learn about more than just the three Rs at Allenbourn Middle School in Wimborne. An emphasis on extracurricular activities, including music and sports, gives children aged nine to 13 a well-rounded and social school life before they move
HE’S been behind the scenes of some of the biggest rock records of the last decade. Now producer Ethan Jones makes a rare appearance at Square records in Wimborne on Tuesday at 5.30pm. Ethan will be giving a Q&A session about his time working
WITH almost two decades of work behind them, numerous recordings, a career of touring and their own record label, it is little wonder why the chance to witness Ugly Duckling at a small, independent town-centre venue caused such a stir in hip-hop circles
IT’S been described as Monty Python for kids. The Horrible Histories Live Show is an entertaining, educational and blood-thirsty romp through time based on Terry Deary’s best-selling books. There is always plenty of audience participation and
A SEVERE weather warning has gone out for Dorset with high winds and flooding expected until 9pm this evening. The Met Office issued the warning and police and firefighters are advising people to take extra care when driving. A police spokesman
CAMPAIGNING residents are celebrating after controversial plans to build up to 90 houses have been scrapped. People who live in Marsh Lane off Fairmile Road, Christchurch contacted the borough council in droves earlier this year after proposals
BLACKPOOL have completed the loan signing of Cherries star Wes Thomas. The 25-year-old striker was last week understood to have handed in a transfer request and has now linked up with the Championship outfit until January 1. Tangerines boss
POOLE Lions Club aims to celebrate the 35th year of its major fund raising swimarathon by targeting £30,000 for needy local charities. The popular two-day Swimarathon 2013 takes place over the weekend of February 2-3 at the Dolphin Swimming Pool
ALMOST 50 years after a small group of surfers gathered in a Lilliput house to fight for their sport, the club is still going strong. The Wessex Surf Club, which began in 1964, has this month welcomed back seven of its founding members, who range
ELDERLY residents on Bournemouth’s Townsend estate are assured of at least one hot meal a week this winter, thanks to a new project being funded by Age UK. Nutritional meals will be cooked at the Jewell Road community centre and delivered to the
JINGLE bells will be ringing out in Christchurch when Father Christmas and his reindeer fly in for the annual Christmas festival on Saturday December 1. The High Street will be closed to traffic throughout the day for the Christmas Street Market
POLICE are appealing for information after an 87-year-old New Milton woman had her bag stolen from her home. The incident took place last Saturday between 3pm and 5pm. Two men called on the elderly lady at her home in Marston Road and asked
A BOURNEMOUTH-born author has borrowed some of the magic from her hometown for her first novel. Catherine Fowler, who lives in Littledown, brings modern-day witch Adrianna Jasmine Poppleapple Mariposa Forthright Punch to life in her book Sweet
Have you or do you know a postman or postwoman who has been attacked by a dog during rounds in the BH postcode area? If so, we'd like to hear from you for a future story. Contact our newsdesk by emailing newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk or by
COST-cutting plans that could see job losses and increased fees have been given the green light by council chiefs. Members of Bournemouth Council’s cabinet have backed plans to streamline its housing and parks departments in a bid to save millions
TRAFFIC is queuing on the A338 from Ashley Heath to Blackwater Junction after a collision this morning. The incident is believed to have taken place northbound around a mile from the Ashley Heath roundabout.
A NEW orchard is becoming a reality after residents started planting new trees to help wildlife. The Friends of Turner’s Nursery group were helped by volunteers from around Parkstone to dig in 400 saplings donated by the Woodland Trust. Residents
DRIVERS are being urged to take care on New Forest roads following a surge in the number of animal accidents during November. The New Forest National Park Authority and Verderers are appealing for motorists to take more care after there were 20
A SINGER from Bournemouth is “over the moon” at having her 1960s hit rereleased after being used on television. Nita Rossi grew up in Bournemouth before her single Untrue Unfaithful went into the charts in 1965 and the song has now been used in
A BUSINESSMAN accused of having a protected tree felled said he could see why people suspected him, a court heard. Neil Davey, 51, told police that he and his wife Sheena enjoyed a better view over Poole Harbour from the sun terrace of their £550,000
RYANAIR will return to Bournemouth Airport next year after a longer-than-usual winter break. The low-cost airline will begin its spring/summer 2013 timetable from March 14 with 15 routes currently on offer for travellers. Passengers are currently
SOMETIMES judicial rulings stick in the throat, regardless of the fact that they have been handed down from the highest of authority. We share the disappointment expressed in today’s paper by Ben Barnett, the brother of Heather Barnett. Yesterday
UNFORTUNATELY, I was one of the many motorists caught up in the gridlock which dominated the Bournemouth rush hour on Tuesday last, November 13. I left my home on the East Cliff at 7.45am to undertake the usual 10-minute drive to the Bournemouth
BILL Cotton, of Bournemouth Council, was seen on TV referring to the demolition of the Imax building, saying, “Our main concern now is that we do what the people of Bournemouth want us to do.” A pity those responsible for the building in the first
I AM writing with the hope that the kind person who helped me in Blandford (Morrisons) Car Park on Tuesday November 6 will read this and help me again. My parked car was hit twice by a driver in a Honda Civic who then drove off. A witness kindly
POOLE Harbour Commissioners seem determined as ever to expand Poole Boat Haven into a huge 950-berth marina. This despite original planning permission having been granted only on the basis that it should provide, unlike the Quay itself, safe berthing
FEARS that A&E, maternity or acute surgery wards could be closed under a merger of hospital trusts will be voiced in Parliament today. Christchurch MP Chris Chope has accused hospital managers of keeping the public in the dark over their plans
CREWS from Dorset Fire and Rescue came to the aid of motorists trapped in their vehicles in flood water this morning. They were called twice, at 6.50am and 8.45am, to push cars out of 12 inches of water at Whitemill Bridge near Shapwick and once
POOLE-based company J Motor Components (JMC) has suddenly closed its doors, leaving employees without a job just before Christmas. The company, which also has branches in Weymouth, New Milton, the Isle of Wight and Bridport, ceased trading last
THE murder of Heather Barnett was one of the most horrific and senseless killings officers from Dorset Police had ever witnessed. The 48-year-old seamstress was found dead in her ground floor flat by her children Terry and Caitlin, then aged 14
A DANGEROUS man is still on the run, five months after he was due to be sentenced for a vicious assault outside a Bournemouth restaurant. Mohamed Tabte, 39, was living locally when he was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm at around 2am
THE man who murdered Heather Barnett has had his whole-life term quashed by the Court of Appeal. The judgement followed a challenge by Danilo Restivo and three other convicts who were fighting their whole-life tariffs. Their lawyers argued
WONDERFUL, wonderful playing from Benjamin Grosvenor in Grieg’s Piano concerto. Finding rather more poetry and playfulness than many pianists, his insightful reading and cool precision were breathtaking. Those delicate arabesques against muted
Seagulls’ Stella Cookson and Christian Tai are heading for their first national age group championships next year. Cookson, 12, struck gold and bronze in the 200 and 100m breaststroke at the Aquae Sulis Open Meet in Bristol’s new 50m pool.
JOE Roach is tipping Eddie Howe to maximise the mercurial talents of Brett Pitman and insists the striker can provide the finishing touch for Cherries. Former Cherries head of youth Roach mentored Pitman as he rolled off the Dean Court production
POOLE Town vice-chairman Chris Reeves has revealed Dolphins could still have one last pay-day from Charlie Austin’s momentous rise. The non-league outfit are already understood to have profited to the tune of around £200,000 from Austin’s prolific
PIRATES chief Matt Ford is refusing to break the bank in his 2013 contract negotiations and is warning prospective signings: “Be sensible.” Ford issued a plea to potential recruits after revealing that the Dorset club’s finances had taken a hit
Swim Bournemouth new boy Jay Lelliott struck gold three times and silver twice during a weekend that also qualified him for five events at next year’s national youth championships. Lelliott, 17, who holds eight Dorset senior records, was first
WIMBORNE Town finally laid claim to the Dorset bragging rights – even if their victory over 10-man Poole Town failed to silence Dolphins boss Tom Killick. Poole old boys Micky Hubbard (two) and Steve Smith were both on target as the Magpies eased
