THE fight to save the Portland coastguard helicopter has been given another boost with a debate in the Houses of Commons. South Dorset MP Richard Drax will hammer home the importance of the aircraft in a debate at Parliament at 12noon on Wednesday
A BOURNEMOUTH father, who had a mechanical pump fitted to his heart, died after he dropped the controller while carrying his daughter to bed. Former doorman Darryl McDougal, 51, was fitted with a Left Ventricular Assist Device last December while
COUNTY chiefs have confirmed their commitment to multi-million pound investment in Dorset, despite the challenging economic climate. Dorset County Council members backed the authority’s ambitious spending plan, which includes a range of building
WIMBORNE Town vice-chairman Paul Miller expressed his delight after securing manager Steve Cuss on an extended contract. The Magpies announced on Thursday night that Cuss had penned a deal to remain at Cuthbury at least until the end of the 2014
THE first phase of a £35million redevelopment of St Ann’s Hospital at Poole has been “topped out” in a ceremony held at the cliff-top site. The event, which marked the roof being put on, was hosted jointly by the local NHS Trust, Dorset HealthCare
PARALYMPIC athlete Ben Rushgrove paid a visit to Bournemouth University to talk to students and staff about disability. Ben represented Great Britain in the T36 100m and 200m at the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and the London 2012 Games,
BOSCOMBE residents and community groups are being urged to take part in a survey studying local services. Charitable Trust Bourne-mouth 2026 has commissioned an independent researcher to find out what children’s activities, services for older people
A COLLISION on the A35 at Upton this afternoon is causing traffic problems throughout the area. Motorists are apparently caught in queues around the A35 eastbound this afternoon as a result of the incident. This video also includes footage
POP star Jessie J has been forced to pull out of her Bournemouth gig in March next year, due to recording commitments. The show at the BIC has been rescheduled to November 10. All tickets will remain valid and Jessie apologises for any inconvenience
A 21-YEAR-OLD recruit from Bournemouth is setting sail on a new career after completing his Royal Navy basic training at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall. Trainee Engineering Technician Ryan Jessé arrived at the training base in September and during a 10
RESIDENTS have been warned to be on their guard after shed and garage break-in crimes almost doubled last month. Bournemouth and Poole saw an increase of 44 per cent in shed and garage burglaries from 86 offences in October to 124 in November.
POLICE have warned anyone causing trouble in Bournemouth town centre this Christmas they will find themselves in a police cell. The message comes from Bournemouth central neighbourhood Inspector Dean O’Connor as part of the force’s ongoing Operation
BOURNEMOUTH Council is set to take a £1million calculated gamble to kickstart £10m of investment in the town centre. The council is proposing to dip into its cash reserves and invest £1m in plans to build a mix of 64 flats and commercial units
A SLIPROAD off the Wessex Way has re-opened after a car went into a ditch. The Hurn turn-off on the southbound carriageway of the A338 was completely closed following the incident. This video also contains footage of a collision on the A35
BRITISH Transport Police have re-released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to after a woman was touched indecently on a train. The incident happened around 11.30am on Wednesday October 3 2012 when the victim, a 23-year-old woman from
FUNNYBONE comedy club at Centre Stage in Westbourne is running a series of nights this week. Tonight sees a trio of top comedians that include Richard Morton, Marlon Davis and Tiffany Stevenson, pictured. Comedian, singer, songwriter and winner
JEFF Wayne’s musical version of The War of The Worlds has been chilling audiences since 1978. It remains an award-winning masterpiece that has continually won new fans, spending over 330 weeks on the UK chart to date, reaching No 1 in 11 countries
CAST your mind back to November 2002, when The X Factor was still just a glint in Simon Cowell’s eye, most of Little Mix were in primary school, and the big ITV talent show was Popstars: The Rivals. The series gave viewers the chance to create
TWO illegal immigrants accused of raping a stranger at a Bournemouth shop have claimed she consented to sex with both of them. Farid Ghorzanig told jurors: “I asked her if she was enjoying it and she said ‘of course.’ “Afterwards I said ‘do you
A LEARNER driver who crashed into a wall after reaching speeds of more than 60mph in built-up areas of Bournemouth has received a community sentence. Portuguese Alexssandro Osti, 37, from St Peter’s Road, Bournemouth, admitted driving dangerously
POPULAR Ashley Cross in Poole will hold its first ever Christmas food market on the next two Saturdays. Eighteen market stalls will offer a wide range of festive food on Saturdays December 15 and 22 from hog roast to paella, local cheeses, breads
A FLAMBOYANT X Factor contestant who divided the nation will pay a visit to Bournemouth next week. Rylan Clark, left, famous for his slicked-back hair, beard and tight trousers, will be at V nightclub, above, on Monday, December 17. The 24-
A POOLE mum almost included a praying mantis in her Christmas stuffing mixture this week after it crawled out of a bag of herbs from Tesco at Fleetsbridge. Linda Hebditch, of Sandpiper Close, said she was terrified when she found the predatory
THERE is a great need to improve the existing path for both walkers/cyclist once one has crossed the bridge over the Stour at Throop, be it via Dales lane or Pig-shoot lane into the Hurn area. I have made endless representations to both Dorset
RAPPER Dappy is no stranger to controversy and questionable headwear. But Dappy, real name Costadinos Contostavlos, has been topping the charts with this year’s solo releases. The N-Dubz star was supposed to visit Bournemouth in September but
SAY hello to VLAD, the latest young band to have popped up on the Bournemouth music scene. Formed last year, the trio was born after jamming in a caravan in their mate’s back garden. Following the release of their first few tracks, they caught
A FATHER, grandfather great-grandfather passed away peacefully on November 12, just five weeks after his beloved wife died. Born in Worthing, East Sussex, on December 11, 1925, Des Lovesey had been married to Joy for 62 years. Joy died on October
Handel would utilize whatever forces were available when performing his Messiah and likely to have an orchestra of the size so expertly directed by Nicholas McGegan here. Matched against the full Bournemouth Symphony Chorus at a ratio exceeding
A MUCH-LOVED mother, sister and daughter has passed away unexpectedly at the age of 41. Lucy Kershaw was born on November 28, 1970 in Ashford Hospital, Middlesex. She and her sister Jane spent their childhood in Staines; swimming, making camps
SHAHRAM MAZLUMI aged 40 of Christchurch Road, Bournemouth. Proved in absence that he failed to identify the driver of Ford who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence. Fined £600. To pay victim surcharge of £15. Costs of £85. Disqualified for
ROBERT CHARLES SHIPSTON, aged 55 of Juniper Close, Wimborne. Admitted exceeding the 30mph speed limit on Manor Road, Verwood. Fined £120. To pay victim surcharge of £15. Costs of £35. Disqualified for six months. Licence endorsed with four penalty
JANET KATHLEEN GIDDINGS aged 64 of Greensleeves Avenue, Broadstone. Admitted driving a Mercedes through a red light on Holes Bay Road Junction with Sterte Road, Poole. Fined £60. To pay victim surcharge of £20. Costs of £35. Licence endorsed with three
CENTENARIAN Betty Rew was born in 1912 when the average weekly wage was £1.40, Scott reached the South Pole and the Titanic set sail. Happily, unlike those ill-fated journeys, Betty was to sail on to the next century. Her childhood was spent
I WOULD like to thank you and the people who responded to my letter in Saturday’s Daily Echo (Dec 1) for their help and kindness in helping me to locate the book ‘Famous Women in Dorset’. My faith in humans has been restored. KAREN LONDON, Tolpuddle
I AGREE wholeheartedly with the views of Jane Wills (Echo December 10) who believes that tidal power has the capacity to provide all our energy needs. Philosophically, environmentally, financially – Jane Wills’ solution ticks all the boxes.
POLICE have appealed for witnesses to a fail-to-stop accident in Bournemouth which left a cyclist with a broken arm. The 19-year-old Bournemouth man fell off his bike while trying to avoid a collision with a green car at the junction of Withermoor
SIMON PAUL BEDFORD aged 31 of Yarmouth Road, Poole. Proved in absence that he drove a Vauxhall on Charminster Road whilst using a mobile phone. Fined £200. To pay victim surcharge of £15. Costs of £100. Licence endorsed with three points. MICHAEL
COUNCILS are often criticised for not doing enough to help the local economy. There are those that feel local authorities are looking at ways of raising revenue rather than investing and boosting business. So a pat on the back to Bournemouth
MATT Ford last night hailed Jason Crump as one of speedway’s greatest. Crump yesterday announced his retirement from the shale sport after revealing he would need surgery for some long-standing collarbone injuries, ruling him out of the entire
WHERE I live in Winton irresponsible dog owners are still not clearing up after their animals. Yesterday I saw several incidents of this in 200 yards. How can these selfish people own a dog and not clear up after it? They obviously have no
I AM asking people to save their Christmas stamps and donate any unwanted Christmas presents to help raise money for the Guide dogs for the Blind charity. As many of you have sent me hundreds of stamps/postcards already, I still ask everyone to
I WAS interested, but certainly not reassured, to read how Eneco’s proposed wind farm “will be moved further out to sea and have fewer turbines” so it would “reduce the farm’s visual impact”. Yet again it seems that Eneco’s marketing department
A CONSULTANT gynaecologist accused of fraud has been cleared in court. A jury found Julian Pampiglione not guilty of claiming double payments for fertility treatment of NHS patients. Prosecutors decided to offer no evidence on a second charge
PASSENGERS from Bournemouth were among those on a cruise ship blighted by the norovirus sickness bug. The Oriana has docked back in Southampton today after a journey reported to be described by some as “a cruise to hell” after passengers were
5:28pm We're wrapping up our coverage for now but thanks for joining us today. The Met Office's yellow warning for rain remains in place until 6pm tonight but we will of course let you know if any weather warnings are issued
CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe maintained his focus on a "vital" festive schedule after today being named League One manager of the month for November. News of the Cherries boss’s accolade was exclusively revealed by the Daily Echo via Twitter just after
A CHRISTMAS card destined for New Zealand has been mistakenly posted to the same village home near Christchurch four times in one week. The card, which was posted in Plymouth, was addressed to a Mr and Mrs Hill, at a house in Brookside Close, Christchurch
A CONCERNED mum is keeping her twins off school as the winter flu bug continues to spread throughout a Poole school, despite a deep clean at the weekend. Ninety pupils of 350-strong Ad Astra First School at Canford Heath are now off sick with flu-like
The Poole Yacht Racing Association had its annual celebration last weekend when 150 members and guests descended on Poole Yacht Club for their awards evening. The end-of-season event allows the presentation of overall PYRA prizes (see list in ‘
SIMON Francis insists Cherries are aiming for automatic promotion – and he is adamant they have the quality to make the dream a reality. The Cherries star believes Eddie Howe’s men are timing their push perfectly as they bid to force their way
PARK School in Queens Park is celebrating its boys and girls table tennis squads qualifying for the regional schools under-11 championships for the second year in a row. The boys U11s team beat Cranborne Middle School in a tense final. Both teams
TWO aspiring volleyball stars have returned from their first international competition to their base in Bournemouth – and received a warm welcome from Team GB poster girl Zara Dampney. Sam Allen and Sam Walrond, from Bournemouth’s LeAf elite sporting
BASHLEY boss Frank Gray believes rookie goalkeeper Stuart Moore could build a bright footballing future. Gray has been impressed with the young stopper since drafting him in on loan from Premier League outfit Reading. Moore made eight starts for
PRIORY boss Graham Kemp admits his men will be facing a “different monster” when they renew hostilities with title rivals Blackfield & Langley. The Wessex Premier big guns have been widely considered championship favourites since Ashley Vickers
IF Cherries boss Eddie Howe were to pick a side of unsung heroes, Wes Fogden would be one of the first names on the team-sheet every week. Having waited in the wings, Fogden has seized his chance with both hands since Howe restored him to the starting
BOSS Eddie Howe has warned Cherries they will risk losing their unbeaten record if they allow their high standards to drop. Cherries will bid to extend their proud 12-match sequence when they host Colchester United at Dean Court tomorrow (3pm).
DAVID Dunn believes Lions will respond in style following last week’s shocking 24-18 defeat against National Two South strugglers Lydney. The Chapel Gate outfit also lost forward Ben Featherstone to a dislocated shoulder in that home reverse, although
WIMBORNE Athletic Club recently hosted their track-and-field presentation evening. Their most significant achievement during the year was winning the Division Two title in the South West League and the consequent promotion to Division One for 2013
MARAUDING Moordown Athletic under-15s crushed Portsmouth League high-fliers Pickwick Tigers in a ‘Clash of the Titans’ Hampshire Cup tie. The Tigers arrived at Pelhams Leisure Centre in buoyant mood after winning all of their league and cup games
DEDICATED Nathan Johnstone has his eyes on world glory after winning the British junior championship in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The 11-year-old from Moordown, won four contests to clinch the gold medal in Walsall. His longest bout lasting just 38
After a week of icy starts, Dorset is facing flooding again this morning as a band of heavy rain sweeps in. The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the county, with 15-20mm of rain expected to fall on Friday morning. Forecasters
THE Red Arrows pilot killed when his plane crashed near Bournemouth Airport probably ‘almost blacked out’ during a |routine pre-landing manoeuvre, an inquest found yesterday. The hearing in Bournemouth recorded a verdict of accidental death on
HOTSHOT Michael Charles set his sights on firing Poole Town to promotion after buying into the club’s ambitious plans. Charles revealed he had turned down the chance to move to higher-level outfit Gosport Borough in order to boost Dolphins’ title
