May

For the first time in living memory, sheep are driven through the centre of Wimborne by the Mayor, Cllr Sue Cook, as she revives an ancient tradition.

Police launch a murder investigation after ‘kind and generous’ businessman Guy Hedger dies as a result of gunshot injuries during a robbery in which masked intruders break into his home at St Ives near Ringwood.

Poole Borough Council’s decision to close the public loos on Sandbanks rebounds, as caught-short drivers relieve themselves against the walls of the millionaire homes.

Retired bus driver Keith Burbidge misses his job so much he builds his own mini version of a Bournemouth Yellow Bus out of an old mobility scooter and two rescued bus seats.

Election campaigning is halted and Bournemouth’s religious leaders unite to condemn the Manchester terror attack which sees 22 people – including a number of children - die when terrorist Salman Abedi blows himself up at an Ariana Grande concert. The county is put on ‘critical alert’ against further incidents.

Paw-secco and Old Sock ice cream are put on the menu – for four-legged friends – at the Angel Inn in Longham.

June

A letter penned by Beatle George Harrison, while he was staying in Bournemouth during 1963, in which he worries he may end up ‘poor and hungry’ is sold – for £20,000.

A Poole court hearts that despite being advised numerous times by her GP to stop driving, pensioner June Cox, 80, caused the death of Pamela Wilde, 83. Cox admits causing death by careless driving and is sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

The General Election results in a hung parliament with Labour making sweeping gains across the UK. Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood sees his majority halved.

St Catherine’s Hill at Christchurch suffers a massive wildfire with smoke billowing across the A338 Spur Road.

Railway history is made when a train service runs between Swanage and Wareham for the first time in 45 years, thanks to the dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers.

Following the horrific Grenfell Tower fire in London, residents in Poole’s tower blocks demand a safety review of their homes.

Dorset Police unveils its latest crime-fighting weapon – Robo Crop, a tractor.

At nearly 30 degrees, Bournemouth enjoys its hottest June day since 1976.

And staff at Lytchett Matravers’ Tesco feel their offers must have been very special indeed, to attract a Sika deer to their doors. They gently shoo the confused creature away.

July

Fordingbride’s Regal cinema re-opens after a 50-year closure.

AFC Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe breaks down in tears when talking about his bond with Bradley Lowery, the six-year-old football mascot who touched the nation’s heart with his brave cancer battle.

Jeremy Corbyn gets a rock star welcome when he visits Bournemouth’s West Cliff during a tour of marginal constituencies.

Thousands of music fans claim they have been left out of pocket after an Olly Murs concert at King’s Park is cancelled with less than a month's notice.

Despite having no loo, electricity or running water, a beach hut at Mudeford goes on sale for £280,000.

August

Teenager Abbie King shows off her svelte new figure, after losing more than eight stone.

After a two-and-a-half year break due to leukaemia treatment, Cherries superfan, Dan Hall, is given a hero's welcome at the Vitality Stadium. “It’s the first time I’ve actually seen them in the Premier League,” he declares.

And Bournemouth Air Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary.