LYDIA McManus found herself in the fastest British women's butterfly race in history at Sheffield - and almost won a medal. After reaching the 16-17yrs youth final of the 100m butterfly, the Ferndown Otters' 16-year-old powered down the first length
A CHARITY and awareness day held in memory of a woman who tragically died of epilepsy raised thousands of pounds. The event was held at Shelley Park in Boscombe at the weekend and organisers have hailed it a great success. Entertainment included live
DORSET'S first smoke-free month has been hailed a success, with more people wanting to give up and few problems over enforcing the ban. In Bournemouth, council officers have visited 620 premises to check that the correct signs are in place. Licensing
BUSINESS owners face losing their livelihoods and banger racing fans a site they have visited for decades if a proposed housing development gets the thumbs-up. Eaglebeam Ltd, owner of Matchams Lesisure Park, near Ringwood, has applied for planning permission
DAWN rose on a new century of Scouting on Thursday morning at Brownsea Island - the place where it all began. In 1907 Robert Baden-Powell spent a week on the island with 20 young people from diverse backgrounds in an experimental camp that gave birth
PURBECK will get a major new recycling centre if plans submitted to Dorset County Council are approved. Waste management company SITA UK wants to use a nine-hectare part of the Binnegar Quary site, East Stoke. Among the facilities would be composting
YOUNG people in New Milton should soon have a place of their own to meet, thanks to the dedicated efforts of a group of 10 teenagers. Members of ASBOC - it stands for Anti Social Branded Outcast Committee - have been looking for premises for a youth
A COUNCIL ban on advertising posters at Mudeford Quay is threatening the success of a community arts festival in the village, complain organisers. Laurie Phillips, co-chairman of the Mudeford Summer Arts week, has been battling town hall officials who
AN unspoilt rural enclave on the edge of Corfe Mullen, near Wimborne, is set to be protected and its distinctive character preserved for future generations. East Dorset District Council's policy and resources committee will next week consider launching
volunteers are being sought in Christchurch to take bookings from people wanting to use the local Dial-a-Bus service, to make it better geared to the town. Dial-a-Bus operates a weekly service from east and west Christchurch, providing wheelchair-friendly
THE Citizens' Advice Bureau in north Dorset has appealed to Blandford Town Council to match the funding given by other councils in the district. The Bureau is facing a financial struggle due to the decision of North Dorset District Council to withdraw
TOWER Park-based RH Group Ltd - the UK's largest European freight specialist - has reported a record turnover of £119.2 million for the year to December 31. This represents a 32 per cent increase on the previous year's turnover of £90.6 million. Operating
THE man who imported 50 pairs of deadly petrol-driven in-line skates into Britain has today defended them saying: "They're great fun." Former Sunseeker worker Joe Sigley, 32, spent £3,000 on the Chinese-made skates which can reach speeds of 20mph using
IF you've been hanging on to your '80s shell-suit in the hope of a fashion revival sometime soon - forget it. For a new survey has just confirmed what anyone with a modicum of taste will already know - that it was one of the biggest fashion faux pas
WINTON residents will today discover if their battle to prevent Wetherspoons moving into their area has been successful. They have been angered by the chain pub's application for the Wimborne Road site, pointing out it would be the sixth bar within a
As I recently sat in my doctor's waiting room, it brought to mind a question from my son many years ago. "Mummy, were there dinosaurs when you were little?" Now, as I watched the daily routine of a modern surgery, I began to feel like I had come from
FLOOD defences and water-tight building regulations mean Sandbanks has "nothing to fear" from the sea - for now. This is the strong message of reassurance from a borough councillor and a developer following Monday's shock report that it could face serious
A deal to sell off a Bournemouth town centre car park does represent best value for money, a scrutiny panel has concluded. A decision to give developers Parkridge Securities Ltd more time to submit plans for the car park on the corner of Madeira and
BRITONS growing taste for organic is extending to beauty products, new research has revealed. Around 200 new organic and all natural toiletry goods have launched across the UK already this year, and the UK now accounts for 19 per cent of this year's
BA da bing! Bournemouth's most cosmopolitan area now has a little slice of Italian-American flavour. Peppinos has recently reopened in Charminster following a complete refurbishment. And while the food is still essentially Italian, the restaurant's stylish
MARSEILLE is modern and yet could be used as a set for a historical film. It has the largest port in France. Sailing boats costing a small fortune, tourist vessels and fishing boats throng the harbourside. And the daily fish market is a sight to behold
THE Dorset Heavy Horse Centre near Verwood is celebrating an unexpected new arrival after one of the resident shire horses gave birth without staff realising she was pregnant. The not-so-little new arrival - born to a mare called Amy - become only the
HOW many of us struggle on with a bad back while at work, doing the garden or even after a night in bed? Quite a lot, is the short answer, but did you know that problems stemming from backache and muscular pain cost the country's economy - in sick days
Catalan tomato bread - makes 8 Slices The simplicity of this dish means that it must be made with only the best-quality tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil. 1 small loaf crusty, country-style white bread (not ciabatta) 2 garlic cloves, peeled About
IT'S the sound guaranteed to banish any hopes of falling asleep. Off go the lights, then echoing in the darkness comes the ominous buzz of a mosquito. Do you clamber out of bed and try and tackle it... or drop off knowing your skin is likely to become
I've lived in Bournemouth for 14 years. Now this is not unusual in itself. Lots of people have. I've raised my children here and done hundreds of things which can be done (there are probably thousands but in life we pick and choose). Most of this has
FOUR women and two children returned to their cars to find they were locked in a car park and no one would help them. Nina Hayes was so frightened she suffered a panic attack as she couldn't get her car out of the Sovereign Centre car park in Boscombe
HARD-pressed hoteliers and guest house owners heaved a huge sigh of relief on Tuesday as summer finally arrived on the south coast. After the wettest June and July on record, forecasts for fine weather spurred sun-starved families into action and by
PIRATES legend Craig Boyce has stressed his allegiance to Poole by saying: "If I had my way I wouldn't want to ride for any other club." The Face, who turns 40 tomorrow, lines up for Poole Castle Cover as a 30-something for the final time at home to
HARRY Redknapp joked that he might be preparing a bid for Cherries star Darren Anderton after seeing his Portsmouth side ease to victory in their pre-season clash. The Pompey boss saw Lomana Lua Lua's hat-trick and Niko Kranjcar's strike prove more than
MAIDEN Newton has to be one of the prettiest villages in Dorset. Set in a rural valley to the North West of Dorchester, it has pleasant, almost French air, with old stone houses and wildlife-rich watermeadows which flank the River Frome. Those lucky
RESTLESS Brits will move house a staggering 12 times in their lifetime, according to new research. Relocation, rising house prices and relationship break-ups will see us packing up our homes more frequently than ever. Almost one in five will live in
