Matt Ritchie scores for Swindon against Gillingham in League Two last season... MANAGER Eddie Howe has hailed as “another statement of intent” Cherries’ capture of sought-after Swindon Town winger Matt Ritchie. The 23-year-old, who was
THE Jack Ratts will be featured on Hope FM’s Live Wire Live show next Wednesday. The folk punk six-piece recently released their debut album, Sail The Deadly Seas. The show, which last week showcased Escapefrom98, puts the spotlight on a different
CHERRIES have tonight completed the signing of Swindon Town’s jewel in the crown Matt Ritchie, the Daily Echo can exclusively reveal. The 23-year-old winger finalised terms on a three-and-a-half year contract after the two clubs agreed a transfer
Cabinet maker Simon Owens is so disgusted with the amount of litter strewn around Dorset he's making a film to highlight the problem. He took this footage with a camcorder strapped to the passenger seat of his car as he drove down the A338
THE £72,237 raised for Macmillan Cancer Support from last year’s Dorset Bike Ride brought the total raised to a magnificent £1million since it began. The London Boat Show was the venue to announce the result of the 2012 Macmillan Dorset Bike Ride
AROUND 30 newly-planted trees were destroyed when vandals went on a wrecking spree in a Bournemouth park. Forty young trees were planted in Kings Park a few weeks ago but now three quarters of them have been snapped in two. The damage was discovered
TWO roads in the New Forest are closed this afternoon due to flooding. Balmer Lawn Road in Brockenhurst is shut both ways around the A337 Lyndhurst Road and in Sway the B3055 is closed both ways between Pitmore Lane and Tattenham Road.
A POOLE author whose first novel was one of the bestselling children’s debuts of 2012 is a day away from the launch of her second book. Sarah Lean’s A Horse for Angel, out tomorrow, follows up the success of last year’s A Dog Called Homeless.
Lottery-funded ping pong sessions have been officially launched in Christchurch. The free sessions will take place on Mondays from noon to 3pm at Druitt Hall, with the first official session attracting a crowd of people keen to show off their skills
MOTORISTS were delayed on the A31 this afternoon due to a large amount of military vehicles on the move. A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said traffic queues were backed up to Ashley Heath as a result of the large tanks travelling slowly eastbound
A SOLICITOR who was fined after his car broke down in a bus stop has criticised the council’s “heavy handed” approach. Charles Garegnani, of West Road, Pokesdown, eventually succeeded in overturning the £70 penalty charge notice issued after he
NOT satisfied with raising £4,000 for Southampton Hospital in one month last year, friends of Kyle Rees were back selling wristbands and painted pebbles in his memory at Castlepoint. The five sixth-formers who make up Team 4K from Avonbourne College
DORSET’S Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill is one of only two chosen to showcase his vision for the county at a Victim Support meeting in London. Martyn Underhill and Wiltshire PCC Angus Macpherson have been invited to speak at a board
A 64-YEAR-OLD man has described his terrifying ordeal when he was attacked by a drug-crazed raider in his own home. Robert Hunt was strangled, tied up and had a knife pressed against his throat by his attacker, who told him: “I will kill you if
FIRMS have started to come forward to help with the work to repair graves damaged by vandals in Poole at the weekend. Poole-based Tapper Funeral Service has pledged its support towards the financial cost of repairing the 25 headstones, which, as
GOALKEEPER Jason Harvell felt Wimborne Town's ability to cope better with the woeful weather had been crucial to their wind-assisted win. Experienced stopper Harvell made some crucial saves as the Magpies claimed a 1-0 victory over Shortwood United
CONTROVERSIAL politician Nick Griffin has said he didn't mean to cause offence after rowing with a Bournemouth University student on Twitter. The leader of the British National Party called Bournemouth University a “disappointment” on the social
BOSS Simon Browne watched three-goal Ryan Murray fire Hamworthy United to victory and then joked: “It was one of the worst hat-tricks ever.” Delighted Browne was in buoyant mood after watching the Hammers record a thumping 5-2 away triumph over
WORK has just started on the famous beech avenue at Kingston Lacy to maintain the safety of the 180 year-old avenue of beech trees. The work, which will involve felling of five trees, includes carrying out remedial tree surgery work to 70 of the
CAMPAIGNERS took to the streets of Bournemouth in summery shorts and T-shirts to raise awareness of how global warming is affecting weather patterns. They were taking part in a national campaign organised by Climate Revolution, founded by fashion
A BOURNEMOUTH junior school is considering closing its swimming pool because it is costing too much to maintain. Stourfield Junior School is consulting parents on four different options for the pool, which is used by hundreds of youngsters from
TWICE world champion street dancer Darren Symes wowed the judges when he strutted his stuff on one of Britain’s favourite TV programmes. Darren, known as Dymes, earned an impressive three gold stars and won huge praise for his Body Popping performance
STAND-UP Russell Kane is on the road with his biggest tour to date and he will be heading to the Pavilion Theatre on March 7, 8pm. Tickets are selling fast for the top TV comic’s eagerly anticipated gig and fans are advised to book early. Russell
VIRGIN Media says it is doubling the internet speeds of its customers in Poole at no extra cost. It says the town will have some of the fastest speeds in the UK as part of a nationwide initiative to improve the connections of more than four million
UNION members paraded giant invoices at two local health trusts to draw attention to the extra hours they say staff are putting in to keep frontline services going. Public service trade union Unison used the trusts’ own figures and a survey to
A COUPLE convicted of stabbing their noisy neighbour to death in a frenzied attack have been jailed for a total of 30 years. Tracy Ann Mansell and James Kinsley were yesterday found guilty of brutally killing 44-year-old Angelo Rodrigues in his
STUDENTS at Portfield School have planted a tree in the school grounds in their bid for Eco-School status. The pupils planted an English Royal Oak in the grounds, which was donated by the Woodland Trust, and students have made cards to mark their
A BRIGHTLY coloured blanket is bringing a welcome splash of summer to a wintry Poole High Street. Sunset in Poole Harbour is made up of about 200 squares of knitted wool, in all colours and is on display in the window of Café No.34. “It was
IT can cost quite a lot in time and money to make an area look nice. But it can only take a few minutes to ruin it. Some vandals appear to trash something simply because it exists. It doesn’t matter where it is, they will attack it.
I WAS absolutely flabbergasted to see the poster outside St Mary's Church in Ferndown. The poster has the following message: marriage = 1 x male and 1 x female. Whilst I fully appreciate that SOME Christians believe that the Bible refers to
READING the Echo on Saturday 26 January and other comments which have been written, it must be obvious by now what is needed to bring the town up to date and ensure it is a very desirable holiday resort come rain or shine. I always said an ice
I FEEL so strongly about the fact that the government want to spend so many million pounds on a new train system, when the present system needs updating so badly! Surely it would be better to spend the money on getting the present system up together
WE see many letters decrying parking charges and blaming them, in part, for the decline of the town centre and local high streets. One on-line respondent complained there were no short-term spaces available in Westbourne or Ashley Road. There
UNLESS you’re a local, you might not know this place even exists as it’s situated in the middle of a quiet, leafy suburb in Poole. But The Inn In The Park, an 18th century building in the upmarket, residential area of Branksome Park, is worth a
TWO of Bournemouth’s most popular entertainment brands have joined forces to offer a new era of adult fun. Live comedy and music promoters Funnybone have got together with cabaret and party night favourites Rubyz to put a smile on the town’s weekends
An inquest was due to be held today into the death of a 24-year-old man on a railway line. Jason May, 24, originally from New Milton, died on September 18 from electrocution after the incident by the Barrack Road bridge, near the Bailey Bridge
A DEFENDANT in the sex assault trial involving AFC Bournemouth player Steve Cook has said the episode was nothing more than “boy banter”. Brighton and Hove Albion players Anton Rodgers, 20, George Barker, 21, Lewis Dunk, 21, are on trial alongside
DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses following an alleged sex attack in the Charminster area of Bournemouth. An investigation was launched after a 26-year-old woman said she had been molested in a car at around 3.20am on Sunday DC Ross Graham
FIRE broke out at a Sunseeker boat shed believed to contain the £18million yacht of Formula One team boss Eddie Jordan. The blaze in an extractor unit sent smoke billowing across Poole Quay from the luxury yachtmaker’s shipyard yesterday. Workers
A SERIAL sexual abuser who assaulted women and girls in the Poole area for three decades has been warned he faces a lengthy jail sentence. Kenneth Freemantle, 56, of Fortuneswell, Portland, was found guilty of two rapes, 10 indecent assaults and
CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell has expressed his disappointment at Frank Demouge’s failure to cut it in England – but insists the striker was not a “dud” signing. Dutchman Demouge yesterday put the finishing touches to a move to Holland when he signed
WIMBORNE gave their hopes of a top-three finish in Southern Counties South a huge lift with a 23-8 win at leaders Sherborne. Gavin Maltman handed the All Blacks the lead on 18 minutes when he collected Tom Moysey’s clever chip, before rounding
Sandbanks restaurant Cafe Shore has been served a winding up petition by the taxman. HM Revenue and Customs has published a notice in the London Gazette after issuing the petition against Café Shore in Poole. The petition was due to be heard
BENJI Buchel played a starring role as Cherries last night claimed a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Eastleigh to book their place in the semi-finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup. Goalkeeper Buchel saved no fewer than three spot-kicks – including
