AN 84-YEAR-OLD man died after his arm was crushed under a bus wheel, an inquest heard. John Eighteen was in Ashley Road in Parkstone, Poole, when he fell next to an M2 Wilts and Dorset bus and his arm became trapped under the rear wheel, Bournemouth
A SCHOOL in Blandford has launched its summer school for all ages to pass on its expertise to aspiring musicians. Milton Abbey School will play host to the Milton Abbey International Music Festival and Summer School 2013, which is being led by
WARNINGS about the declining working population age in the New Forest have been issued. The Country Land and Business Association says the National Park is at risk of becoming a “permanent retirement and dormitory zone” rather than the living and
A RANGE of events will be taking place in Bournemouth in a bid to create a sustainable future. The activities are part of a Green Community Fair “Trade” which takes place at Castlepoint Shopping Park from March 4 to 8, culminating in a special
THE UK’s only cycling series especially for women will return to the New Forest this year. The Cycletta series, which will take place at Beaulieu on October 13, is backed by Olympian Victoria Pendleton CBE and raises vital funds for official charity
A CARTOONIST has been cautioned by police after publishing images of a councillor either naked or wearing a Nazi uniform. Rod England, 67, was interviewed by police and removed the offending images from his website following a complaint made by
TENS of thousands of New Forest residents are facing an increase in their council tax bills from April. People living in an average Band D property in the district will have to find a total of £1,471 in the coming financial year – a rise of £5.31
ANOTHER three animals have been killed on New Forest roads. A pony died on the B3078 at Crow’s Nest and a grey filly was fatally injured at Ashley Walk, also on the B3078. The third death involved another grey filly that was hit by a vehicle at
Police are appealing for witnesses after an HGV slammed into a parked car, causing extensive damage, then drove away. The black Volkswagen was parked facing south at Station Road, Lymington, near the junction of Newlands Road between 9.30am and
A POOLE mum will be stepping out to take part in this year’s Race for Life with a shaven head to raise much-needed funds for Cancer Research UK. Brittany Smith, 21, will be losing her red shoulder-length locks on the morning of the Poole Park event
RESIDENTS in Highcliffe have called on both sides of the controversial wind farm debate to air their views at a meeting in March. Members of the Highcliffe Community Association will be hosting an event on Friday March 8 from 2.30pm with the wind
It's the financial nightmares you never thought would happen that really hurt. So here’s how to fight back against the top 10 hidden bill perils. 1. “My six-year-old spent £3,200 on an iPhone game” Letting youngsters sit on your knee while
A HISTORIC Wimborne landmark needs local support to bring its waterway back to life. Walford Mill, built in the 18th century, will apply for funding to restore the overgrown millpond if it receives enough public backing. A viewing platform
THE owner of a cuddly collection of 200 teddy bears is hoping they will help raise money for a local children’s charity. Paul Wallace has bought his two children bears every year for their birthdays and Christmas, a family tradition which has lasted
The seaward wall of the Imax building is being demolished today. Two cranes are on site, with one holding up a massive sheet of metal to stop debris falling on the seafront. Image via Bournemouth Council's waterfront webcam Over the
The fourth annual Big Bournemouth Beer Festival will take place at the BIC from March 29 to March 31. The event will be open from 6.30pm until 11.39pm on March 29, noon until 5pm and 6.30pm until 11.30pm on March 30 and 3pm until close on Sunday
PUT the kettle on and take your seats for a television drama with a very familiar backdrop. Next Monday, March 4, the long-awaited first episode of Broadchurch bursts on to our television screens. Locals can't wait to see the eight-part ITV
IT was the programme that got everyone talking. Hgh's Fish Fight struck a massive chord with Echo readers. The Taste blog we wrote when the first series was aired in January 2011 remains one of our most read Taste posts ever. But this week, staff
GRANTS of up to £15,000 could be given to businesses or projects which aim to tempt people out of their cars in the New Forest. The Sustainable Transport Solutions Fund has been launched to support initiatives which encourage visitors to the New
A POOLE man who has himself experienced homelessness is taking part in this year’s London Marathon to raise money for the charity Crisis. Chris Hill, pictured, of Newfoundland Drive, is hoping his efforts will raise at least £2,000 for the cause
THE Bishop of Salisbury, the Right reverend Nicholas Holtam, has officially opened and rededicated Stoborough Primary School. Builders refurbished the old Victorian part of the school, which has become a primary school under the recent Purbeck-wide
Two new members of the Youth Parliament have been elected for Poole. Jess Elms, 15, and Francesca Reed, 16, are both students at Parkstone Grammar School. They won an election held at the Civic Centre and both have pledged to help make a difference
Young swashbucklers are invited to Moors Valley Country Park on March 17 to take part in a family pirate treasure trail. Follow your treasure map to complete pirate fun and games before reaching the treasure. The day starts at 10am – for more information
Planning permission has been secured for alterations to a block of flats set to be built in Ferndown. East Dorset District Council’s planning committee voted in favour of the application, which proposed making elevational changes to the approved
Entries are open for the Easter Quarter Marathon and Easter Bun Fun Run on Saturday, March 30. The charity events, organised by the Rotary Club of Bourne-mouth East Cliff, will start and finish at Boscombe Pier. The 6.5-mile quarter marathon
The RNLI has received planning permission to demolish existing buildings and structures at its maintenance depot in West Quay Road in preparation for its new boat building and maintenance centre. Site levels will be raised by approximately 1.4m
Six cans of beer were stolen when three garages were broken into. Garages at Beaufort House on West Cliff Road were targeted on Tuesday and residents are being warned to be vigilant. Anyone with information can call Dorset Police on 101.
CHANGES to the Yellow Buses route between Burton and Bournemouth town centre are coming into effect on Sunday. The 21 service, which operates Monday to Sunday including bank holidays, will have many journeys departing earlier during the day, including
THE popular Royal British Legion club in Boscombe may be forced to close after it was ordered to pay a five-figure sum by an employment tribunal. The club, which celebrates its 90th anniversary in November, is owned by its members, many of whom
BEEF contaminated with horsemeat has never been on the menu at a Wimborne comprehensive school. Queen Elizabeth school is supplied by catering company Sodexo who have withdrawn frozen beef products from sale following shock DNA test results.
WITH St. Patrick’s Day coming up on March 17, what better way to celebrate early than with The Dublin Legends, formerly of The Dubliners at the Regent in Christchurch on March 14 at 7.30pm. The Dublin Legends are Sean Cannon, Eamon Campbell, Patsy
BOURNEMOUTH is looking to tackle its affordable housing crisis by building the biggest development of family council homes for decades. The £6.5million scheme will see 50 two, three and four-bedroom houses built on former playing fields at Duck
JULIE Williams works in Pastoral Support and has been at the school for 13 years. She said: “It is a great school and it is a pity that it is closing. My job has evolved over the years and I work with outside agencies to support families.” YEAR
Swanage Middle School, High Street, Herston Telephone: 01929 422025 Age range: 9-13 Numbers of pupils: 218 Chair of Governors: Ian Snell Head teacher: David Pratten OFSTED: Latest inspection carried out in December 2012 School rated as good
THE rising cost of diesel is hitting Dorset’s motorists hard, with the average cost of petrol now 138.32p a litre. And those whose livelihoods depend on the price at the pumps say they are being forced out of the market as a result of the spiralling
THE parents of a Poole teenager who died suddenly following a drugs overdose have unveiled a bench in his memory. Paid for by donations from the local community, the bench is sited at the small Canford Heath park where Tom Rowley played as a youngster
IRONIC isn’t it? Just months before a popular Swanage school shuts its doors for good it has received a glowing report from government inspectors who praised its “lively and very enjoyable” lessons and “well cared-for” students. Despite a public
NEW Forest West MP Desmond Swayne is backing Ringwood Town Council's call for improved safety measures on the A31. The Conservative MP, who has been campaigning for the Tories at the Eastleigh by-election this morning, said he was seeking to arrange
AN episode of Top Gear filmed in Christchurch was criticised by borough councillors, insisting Christchurch was not just full of old people. Presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond were in the historic borough famed for its elderly population
ENGLAND Ladies star Steph Houghton paid Broadstone Middle School’s under-13 girls a visit ahead of a major fixture. The 24-year-old visited the team, which has won through to the southern region final of the npower League Girls Community Cup.
JUNIOR swimmers from Talbot Heath school made a splash at the recent Bournemouth Schools Gala held at the Littledown Centre. Year Five team Isobel Place, Olivia Burrage, Francesca Rowley and Emily Cridland dominated the field in all events and
Former Defence Secretary Michael Portillo delivered the 2013 Clayesmore lecture at the north Dorset school. He addressed more than 600 pupils, staff, governors and guests with his lecture entitled: “Life: A game of two halves.” Mr Portillo
Students at Knighton House prep school in Blandford got to meet their counterparts from seven different European schools as part of an initiative to encourage partnerships. Visitors from France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Romania and Turkey
Applications to Bournemouth University have risen compared with last year, said admissions head Karen Pichlmann. Last year saw a sharp decline across the sector due to a huge rise in tuition fees but this year’s January deadline revealed a slight
Yarrells head Charlotte Oosthuizen is expanding the curriculum for Years Seven and Eight students who do not wish to move to secondary education at a younger age. “It is true that big classes in increasingly larger schools do not afford young people
BOURNEMOUTH Air Festival has won acclaim across the pond after being named as one of the best air shows in the world. American newspaper USA Today listed the event as one of its top 10 in a feature which also included spectacles in Florida, Germany
TECHNOLOGY-MINDED students from Poole Grammar School will attend taster courses at top universities to help them decide on possible future careers. All five applicants won places on the residential university courses run by the Headstart charitable
POOLE Lib Dem councillors have backed investigations into the alleged behaviour of former party chief executive Lord Rennard. The peer has been accused by a number of women of sexually inappropriate behaviour, allegations he strenuously denies.
LIKE Rodney Pattisson, “Have Your Say” Feb 20, I trained for a career at sea and served for 10 years as a deck officer on tramps, tankers, banana boats and freighters etc. Consequently I feel qualified in giving readers of the the Echo some assurances
Smoking should be banned in cars carrying children, Health Minister Anna Soubry said. Ms Soubry said the Government should ''consider'' the move to protect children, BBC News reported. David Cameron has previously said, while he supports the
THE final phase of a 15-week engineering project along one of Dorset's busiest dual carriageways starts on Monday. Roadworks on the A35 Upton Bypass will move into the central reservation, closing one lane each side of the highway. From Monday
HOME improvement giant B&Q is poised to re-launch its Poole superstore tomorrow. The new format outlet will open on March 1, following a seven-week transformation. As well as offering thousands of home improvement products it will boast
IT was the news that everyone desperately didn’t want to hear. Just over 72 hours after teenager Ross Haughey waved goodbye to his family as he went out for a walk in the New Forest, the call came in to confirm a body had been found just a few
Police are warning of a spate of burglaries in Lake Road, Napier Road, Lake Drive, Lake Avenue, Branksome Avenue and Lulworth Avenue. They all took place at night, with entry at the rear of properties which appeared to be unoccupied. Officers are
Police were called to the B3072 Manor Road after two vehicles crashed at Newtown Road. The accident happened at 2pm yesterday and involved a Renault Megane, registered to a Verwood woman, and a BMW X5, registered to a Wiltshire woman.
A brick was thrown through the rear window of a parked car in Seamoor Road on Tuesday, police said. Any witnesses and anyone with information can call Dorset Police on 101 quoting crime reference C:7064.
We’ve just recovered from the stresses of Christmas gifting and here we are again, trying to find the perfect present for our darling mums this Mother’s Day. Chances are, if you asked mum what she would like, she’d simply say “your company”.
ISTVAN FERENC SZILAGYL aged 29 of Kings Road West, Swanage. Admitted voyeurism by recording a person doing a private act. Community order made to participate in a sex offenders programme for 60 days. To pay victim surcharge of £60. Costs £40.
GEMMA GALE aged 29 of Sixpenny Close, Poole. Admitted stealing clothing to the value of £45.50 belonging to Primark, Poole. Conditional discharge of two years. To pay victim surcharge of £15. Costs £20. Also sentenced for an original offence for which
STEVE Fletcher is a legend at AFC Bournemouth. When he speaks, the fans listen, the media listens and his team-mates listen. So when Fletcher says ‘Don’t write us off’, he is absolutely right. Three defeats from three games have left Cherries
THIS year is the 40th wedding anniversary of my wife Valerie and myself, Jim, married at St Mark’s Church, Talbot Village. I would like to re-establish contact with my best man on that occasion and was wondering whether your paper and readers may
MR Kipling’s letter (February 23) made it absolutely clear how disruptive night flights are to those of us living under the flight path. It is Christchurch Borough Council that imposes limits on the number and type of aircraft which can operate
I AM writing in response to a letter that I wrote which appeared in your February 14 edition and the positive comments that many of your readers have responded with in respect of the Imax cinema and the local councillors. I feel that the time has
HOME improvement giant B&Q is poised to re-launch its Poole superstore tomorrow. The new format outlet will open on March 1, following a seven-week transformation. As well as offering thousands of home improvement products it will boast
Voters are going to the polls in the closely-contested Eastleigh by-election. The Hampshire constituency has previously been held by the Conservatives and is one of the seats viewed as key to the party winning an outright majority at the 2015 general
A NEW low-carbon business park in north Poole could create up to 1,650 jobs and contribute an estimated £96million a year to the local economy, experts claim. An outline planning application for the 17.6 hectare site off Magna Road is expected
RINGWOOD councillors are calling on the Highways Agency to re-classify the A31 as an urban road where it passes the town. At a town council meeting last night they voted to write to the agency rejecting its claim that there is no reason to impose
A BOURNEMOUTH motorcyclist who died following a crash in North Dorset last week has been named as Derek John Collings. Mr Collings, who was 64, died of multiple injuries after a two-vehicle crash on the A350 near Blandford St Mary at 1.45pm on
JAY Lelliott penned another chapter in his re-writing of the Dorset record books as the 2013 Dorset County Championships opened at Littledown. The Swim Bournemouth 18-year-old toppled four Dorset senior records and eight competition best times
DEFIANT Dean Court legend Steve Fletcher insists Cherries have the ability to confound the critics and has reassured the club’s supporters: We still believe. Fletcher urged the Cherries faithful to stick with the promotion-chasing team after Eddie
STRICKEN non-league star Glenn Howes was the unwitting victim of a cruel jibe which has created more bad blood between bitter Dorset rivals Poole and Wimborne. Howes’s playing career remains in the balance after he suffered a serious leg injury
FIREFIGHTERS barely had to leave their station to deal with a blaze yesterday morning. Crews from Springbourne were called at 8am to Richmond Park Close. Incident commander Richard Chave, said: “This is definitely the closest fire Springbourne
