Archive

  • Up for the cup ever again?

    Was Monday night’s Panorama the final nail in the coffin for England’s 2018 World Cup bid? Well, as the BBC broadened The Sunday Times’ claims of corruption and bribery within the sport’s governing body, FIFA, the bookies lengthened England’s odds of

  • Survivor’s wall tribute to Dorset victims of Aids

    THE unveiling of Bournemouth’s new memorial wall today will be an emotional occasion for artist Andrew Armstrong, who dreamt up the project to commemorate Dorset victims of Aids. The wall, at the Pier Approach, is made up of more than 400 tiles

  • Coping with bipolar disorder

    HER mental ill-health made her try to kill herself and forced her to give up a job she loved, but Helen Hardcastle has no regrets about the way her life has turned out. “In spite of huge losses, such as my career and stable finances, I view my illness

  • Bournemouth Primark opens its doors

    BARGAIN hunters braved sub-zero temperatures to ensure they were first through the door of the most eagerly-awaited Bournemouth store for decades. Suitably dressed in woolly hats and gloves, they waited patiently in Commercial Road while the official

  • Cherries: Ings signs contract extension

    CHERRIES prospect Danny Ings has signed a contract extension, keeping him at the Dean Court club until 2012. The 18-year-old has enjoyed a fruitful spell on loan at Cherries' Dorset neighbours Dorchester Town this season - scoring seven goals in 13 games

  • North into Vase final

    NORTH Dorset sailed into the final of the Dorset and Wilts Vase after seeing off league rivals Corsham 17-13 at Slaughtergate. Toby East kicked off North’s victory with a well-taken early penalty, before a second kick after 15 minutes increased the hosts

  • Steve Harley, O2 Academy Bournemouth

    PERHAPS it was a move designed with Austerity Dave's Big Society in mind, or maybe it was just so bitter that the heating in this wonderful old venue couldn't cope with the chill. To say it was cold, would be like calling the retreat from Moscow

  • Fraudster jailed

    A FRAUDSTER who made off with more than £100,000 of hire company vehicles and machinery across Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset has been jailed for two years. Andrew John O’Donnell, 31, admitted committing 13 charges of fraud against nine separate businesses

  • Mini salt spreaders will keep services in New Forest open

    MINI salt spreading machines will be used to ensure schools and doctors’ surgeries stay open if snow starts falling in the New Forest. And extra roadside salt bins are being distributed to help motorists stuck in the slippery conditions. Following a

  • Offshore wind farm site "littered with unexploded bombs"

    Unexploded wartime bombs litter the seabed off the Dorset coast, which could host an offshore windfarm. This was a surprise finding of a survey into the 280 sq km of sea, said Chris Sherrington, project director of Eneco, which aims to build a £3 billion

  • A350 refurbishment suspended during cold snap

    Work to refurbish the A350 Blandford Road North at Beacon Hill has been suspended due to the cold weather. The reconstruction, at the junction near Lytchett Matravers, can't be done in temperatures less than 2 degrees C. But the county council

  • Paratrooper Ben's battling back after Afghan horror

    AN inspiring paratrooper who suffered devastating injuries in Afghanistan is getting “life changing” treatment in Poole. Ben Parkinson has become a national icon since his vehicle was destroyed by a Taliban landmine in 2006. Both his

  • November 30: Here's to a happy and healthy New Year

    I can't believe it's December tomorrow - where has this year gone? We had a fantastic holiday in Gran Canaria, it feels like ages ago now although it was less than a month since we were sitting by the pool, jumping in the water to cool off and wearing

  • Carpet fitter ran Winton cannabis factory

    POLICE officers were shocked to find a garden shed converted into a cannabis factory after they executed a search warrant in the Winton area of Bournemouth. Bournemouth Crown Court heard how carpet fitter Alexander Wilson, 25, had immediately

  • Antler racers run for deer life at Moors Valley Reindeer Run

    ABOUT 600 runners caught the Christmas spirit when they put on reindeer antlers and galloped around the tracks at Moors Valley Country Park to raise money for the RNLI. Some took the invitation to wear fancy dress to heart, dressed in layers to protect

  • Dorset woman's 12,000 mile coastal odyssey for the homeless

    A DORSET woman is preparing to embark on a two-year odyssey around the coast of Britain to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless. Linda Ballard, 52, decided to take on the walking challenge after she suddenly found herself on the streets

  • Shake-up of Purbeck schools gets go-ahead

    A NATIONAL schools adjudicator has ruled in favour of a controversial £36.5 million shake-up of Purbeck schools. Earlier this year, Dorset county council agreed to forge ahead with plans to change the school system from three to two tiers,

  • Shoot to thrill at Wimborne lights switch-on

    THE shattering sound of the Wimborne militia’s muskets was heard at the town’s annual Christmas lights switch on. They fired off an eight-man volley with their 17th century replica weapons in the town’s square on Saturday in a tradition to

  • Winds of change as public backs Purbeck wind farm plans

    HUNDREDS of people are expected at a high-charged planning meeting tonight which could change the Purbeck skyline for generations. District planners will vote on whether or not to give the green light to plans for a wind farm at East Stoke.

  • Leek and Chestnut Purses

    Leek and Chestnut Purses (with ginger and red pepper relish) Serves 4 (3 purses each) Purse ingredients: 2-2½ tbsp olive oil 100g leeks, trimmed and finely chopped 50g Arborio risotto rice 30ml dry white vegetarian / vegan wine

  • Dorset police warn of devastating effects of drink driving

    A DORSET police chief is warning of the devastating consequences of getting behind the wheel after downing alcohol or taking drugs, just 24 hours from the launch of this year’s Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. Chief Inspector Bob Nichols, head

  • Do you recognise Ringwood attacker?

    A DRIVER was punched in the face when he attempted to stop a theft from his van on the outskirts of Ringwood. Police investigating the assault have now issued an e-fit image of his alleged attacker. Two men walked up to the 39-year-old victim’s van

  • Terror as horse tried to eat my hat

    A WOMAN has told of her terror after a hungry horse mistook imitation holly on her novelty Christmas hat for a bush and tried to eat it. Shocked Eileen Samme, 55, from Cerne Abbas was kicked to the ground and needed hospital treatment for a

  • Christmas with the Rat Pack

    IT'S CHRISTMAS at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, entertainment capital of the world. Well, OK, it's actually late November at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. But thanks to the talents of George Long, Mark Adams and Stephen Triffitt it

  • Charity should begin at home

    In planning my return to the place where I spent many happy weeks on holidays during my youth – still to my mind the best place to holiday in the whole of Europe – I came across the report of the cuts required of Poole council (Daily Echo, November 27

  • What a turn-off

    Following my visit to Bournemouth town centre on the November 28 I was very disappointed with the lack of lights turned on. The commentary could not be heard, and the biggest build up was a count to 10. Lights further up the square were already on

  • Budget cuts will block road improvements

    TRANSPORT bosses in Dorset fear their biggest ever funding challenges in the wake of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review. Road maintenance will take top priority as Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole councils try to keep drivers and users

  • The fat of the land?

    PLENTY is written about the plight of rural communities as local pubs close down, bus services are placed under threat and village shops and post offices succumb to the harsh realities of economic life. Meanwhile, the pressures on house prices continue

  • A 2nd class Christmas

    I am heartily fed-up with those businesses, institutions and people who are trying to secularise Christmas to placate a minority living in Britain. Top of the list in my view is the Royal Mail, which has foisted Wallace and Gromit stamps on the public

  • It’s what nobody wants to talk about

    With regard to the Echo item on men abusing women, I managed seven years of marriage and I am sorry to say it ended very badly with a lot of distress and upset. My former wife would say I was violent. I have a violent temper. So what can I say – do

  • Halt disgraceful jobs axe scheme

    It is truly disgraceful that the Borough of Poole issues a press release detailing the numbers and scale of potential redundancies among borough employees without a single council decision being taken on the matter. It is unforgivable that the decision

  • Watch this space for memorial plan

    Mrs J Dowden is exactly right (Have Your Say, November 26). Brassey Road is too far away from where the RAF Halifax JP137 came down during the night of March 22, 1944 behind Meadow Court on Wimborne Road with the loss of nine lives. That is why the

  • Black humour on eve of destruction

    I wonderED if the gods have a black sense of humour when I realised the International Global Warming talks are being held in the land of the Maya – the civilisation whose calendar (and supposedly, the world) ends in 2012 – the very same year that the

  • Dorset police officer ‘threw me into a wall’

    UPDATE: Since our article was published, Mr Shaw’s allegations against Inspector Dean O’Connor have been fully investigated by Dorset Police. Witness statements were taken from those present at the scene, as well as Mr Shaw and Inspector O’Connor, who

  • Cherries: Loan duo increase Borough stays

    EDDIE Howe has given his blessing to Joe Partington and Mitchell Nelson extending their respective loan spells with Eastbourne Borough. The pair will remain with the Conference outfit at least until the start of January, although Cherries will have a

  • Cherries: Howe won't rush young guns

    CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe is vowing to tread carefully with his team of young strikers and insists they will be blooded only when the time is right. Howe’s options have been diminished significantly following the departures of ace marksmen Brett Pitman

  • King's Lynn join the Pirates in Elite League

    POOLE Pirates will be joined in the Elite League next season by King’s Lynn Stars and Birmingham Brummies. The Stars have stepped up after sweeping the board at Premier League level in recent years, making them one of the most successful clubs in the

  • Taxi driver rapist being sued by victims

    VICTIMS of a taxi driver who targeted Dorset women during a campaign of rape and sexual abuse are suing him for compensation. Dozens of women have started legal proceedings in a bid to ensure 53-year-old John Worboys loses everything while he languishes

  • Romsey test awaits Vaughan's Poppies

    BOSS Kenny Vaughan will be looking for an immediate reaction when Poppies host Wessex League rivals Romsey Town at Victoria Park (7.45pm). Defeat at Moneyfields on Saturday ended an impressive 13-match unbeaten league and cup run which had

  • Wimborne duo report for Dorset Senior Cup duty

    SKIPPER Paul Roast and striker Gareth Barnes will be hoping boss Alex Browne opts to change a winning team when Wimborne host Bridport in the Dorset Senior Cup tonight. Roast and Barnes were both absent as the Magpies ended a six-match winless Southern

  • OLYMPIC HOPEFUL: Recruited a 4th while training in Miami

    Prior to travelling to St Thomas (US Virgin Islands) for an event tomorrow evening, Annie, Kate and I have run away from the snow at home and are doing three days training in Miami on the way. The conditions have been fantastic so far, yesterday