UNDER pressure? Sixteen million people, or one in three British adults, suffer from high blood pressure, placing them more at risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart or kidney failure. Yet according to a recent survey, almost half the UK population does
A WIND of change is blowing through Volkswagen's design studio as they prepare to resurrect the iconic Scirocco sportscar. The Iroc concept has a distinctive long roof and steeply sloping rear, which not only gives it an aggressive and sporting appearance
SOCIAL landlord Dave Wells is living up to his promise to soldier on for permission to build an affordable housing scheme in the town centre, after submitting a new application. Mr Wells lost his appeal earlier this year to develop land next to the railway
POLICE are warning New Forest residents to be on their guard after a distraction burglary at an elderly person's house. The incident, one of several in the area in recent weeks, happened at the home of a 96-year-old woman in Court Close, Lymington, on
SEVENTY motorcyclists revved up for a spin through the New Forest to raise money for the Daily Echo-backed Butterfly Appeal to fight head and neck cancer. The first Peter Ansell Memorial Run invited motorbike lovers to take part in the 20-mile ride from
ORGANISERS of a youth motocross club say they are shocked and saddened by the council's decision to ban the use of motorbikes on a Purbeck farm. Two clubs have now been kicked off West Hill Farm in Kingston by Purbeck District Council, despite being
MOVES to improve access to health services for people living in rural Dorset will come under the spotlight at a meeting today. An 18-month review carried out by Dorset County Council officers found that groups most affected by geographical isolation
A CHURCH is calling for the faithful to flock to a meeting this morning where its plans to demolish a run-down historical building and replace it with a new community hall are being considered. The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul in Blandford has
CHEWTON Glen has been confirmed as the UK's number one leisure hotel by readers of luxury travel magazine Cond Nast. The five-star hotel at New Milton scored an "outstanding" 96 per cent for service and a "near-perfect" 98.67 for the standard and comfort
TAX is complicated enough but a number of common myths are adding to the confusion, warn accountants. Separating fact from fiction is vital for thousands of people locally currently preparing their tax returns ahead of the September 30 deadline. These
GRAHAM Howell rubbed shoulders with European Tour star Stephen Dodd in the Ryder Cup Wales Welsh National championship at Tenby - and they came out even. The 35-year-old Ferndown Forest teaching professional produced his best round of the season on the
A 22-YEAR-OLD man appeared in court on Tuesday accused of receiving terrorist training at a camp in the New Forest countryside. Yassin Mutegombwa from Upper Norwood, south London, faced three counts of receiving training for terrorism, a new offence
"WE will fight for our jobs." That's the message from anxious staff at Bournemouth's Portman headquarters after hearing they will merge with financial giant Nationwide. Fears that hundreds of posts will be lost or relocated prompted a series of meetings
BOURNEMOUTH and Weymouth are to have specialist domestic violence courts from next year in a bid to bring more offenders to justice and give greater protection to victims. At the moment there are 25 domestic violence court schemes across England and
DETECTIVES hoping to nail the brutal killer of a Bournemouth mother have urged the public to watch Crimewatch tonight. They hope a reconstruction of the last known movements of Heather Barnett will lead them to the sick murderer who struck nearly four
A HIGH-profile boss of the company behind Poole's controversial Dolphin Quays is beginning an eight-year jail sentence. Gerald Smith, 51, defrauded a failed dot-com company, Izodia, of £35 million. Smith was a director of Orb, which bought the Poole
EAST GLOUCESTER became the first team in the history of the Kia National Club League to carry away both the men's and ladies' titles from the West Hants Club on Sunday. The men pulled off a 4-2 win against David Lloyd Raynes Park in a sun-baked final
PORTSMOUTH manager Harry Redknapp has insisted he has nothing to fear from any investigation into football corruption. Former Cherries boss Redknapp has admitted meeting a man masquerading as a German businessman and who was, in fact, part of the BBC's
BELLE VIEW 53 POOLE 41 NEIL Middleditch believes Pirates can overcome a 12-point deficit and send Belle Vue spinning out of the Elite League Knockout Cup. Poole RIAS went down 53-41 at Kirky Lane in a semi-final, first leg, clash last night in which
PIRATES team manager Neil Middleditch doesn't believe Antonio Lindback has torn his cruciate ligament after the Swede fell heavily during a 53-41 defeat at Belle Vue on Monday. It was originally feared that the Rio Rocket had badly damaged the ligaments
CHERRIES chairman Abdul Jaffer wants Joe Roach and Stuart Murdoch to make his life difficult. Jaffer has appointed the pair as joint caretaker bosses in the wake of Sean O'Driscoll's shock departure to Doncaster. Head of youth Roach and goalkeeping
A WEALTHY scrap metal dealer and his wife have been ordered to pay back more than £400,000 after being jailed for tax fraud. David and Rosalind Matthews must comply with the confiscation orders or face a further three years behind bars. The couple,
DETECTIVES have launched an investigation following the discovery of two bodies at an address in Durweston, Blandford Forum. Officers from Dorset Police made the discovery when they forced entry into a house on Monday morning. Inside they found the
NATIONWIDE announced this morning that it is to merge with the Bournemouth- based Portman in the biggest- ever building society tie-up. The enlarged society, which will be named Nationwide Building Society, will be the UK's leading mutual organisation
A CRUEL counsellor who "enjoyed the life of Riley" after brainwashing her alcoholic client into giving her nearly a quarter of a million pounds has been jailed for five years. Mary McCullagh, 59, who worked with her husband as a counsellor in Anderson
ANTI-TERROR police last night charged a man with receiving weapons training at a camp in the New Forest countryside. Yassin Mutegombwa will appear in court today after allegedly receiving terrorism training in woodland this summer. It is the first time
