CITROEN is planning to grab a larger share of the commercial vehicle market in the UK with the introduction next month of a new version of its popular Relay van. New Relay features a wider choice of load volumes, four lengths with three wheelbases
THIS week Peugeot takes the wraps off the car destined to become its next folding hard-top convertible, an early taste of the forthcoming 207 CC. But the 207 Epure concept car, seen for the first time at the Paris Motor Show which opens today, has
LUXURY boatbuilder Sunseeker International is poised to expand after new investment and a record-breaking year. Sunseeker increased sales to a record £202 million for the year 2005/06 - beating the previous 12 months by more than 18 per cent. Founder
THE only Germans Sidney Wood came face to face with during the six years of the Second World War mistook him for a civilian. Sidney and two mates were ack-ack gunners stationed in Le Havre who had been ordered to take a lorry delivering stores to an
LORD of the Rings hero Frodo Baggins would have felt right at home in an award-winning eco-home built into the side of a hill in North Dorset. The two-storey, hobbit-friendly' house called the Rotunda is tucked under a 30ft acoustic earth bund next
BOURNEMOUTH'S former Latin American world dance champion Karen Hardy is set to step into the spotlight again as she stars in the fourth series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. Karen had vowed "never again" after the catastrophes that hit her last
MILLIONS of workers in the UK are oblivious to new ageism laws which come into force on October 1, new research shows today. The Employers Forum on Age (EFA) survey of 1,000 people aged over 16 found that a staggering 50 per cent were unaware that
A SUMMER "extended school" programme in Christchurch has been singled out by the government because of its good practice - and now the local organiser says he wants to make it a centre of excellence. The Christchurch Activities for Young People programme
EXTRA staff look set to be recruited at East Dorset District Council's planning department to cope with increased workloads. The council was criticised in 2004/05 after failing to reach application targets, but has since made improvements. A report
ARTEFACTS owned by one of the 20th century's greatest icons are to be auctioned off at Christie's in London. The watch, cigarette case and compass once belonging to Lawrence of Arabia, who lived at Clouds Hill near Bovington, have been unveiled before
I DON'T mean to be sexist - after all, some of my best friends are friends of friends of women - but football's a man's game. Imagine being a West Ham fan, and having to put up with Glenn Roeder, your former manager, now at Newcastle, waving to the
THE Twins - Dorset's identical twin illusionists are sailing on the crest of a wave - literally, after becoming stars of P&O's flagship superliner Arcadia. The highly-acclaimed magicians, who hail from Wareham, produce one of the largest illusion shows
NHS dentistry - no thanks! That's the view of many Polish immigrants, who pop home for treatment rather than facing long waiting lists and the expense of getting their teeth done here. Joanna Konopka, 27, from the Bournemouth-based Polish language
GREEDY New Forest ponies have been getting into tents at campsites to eat food. New Forest Commoners' Defence Association spokesman Michael Cooper told the Court of Verderers most incidents could be avoided if advice was posted at site entrances.
PARKING wardens in Bournemouth were too quick to ticket motorists in the first few days of a new pay and display scheme, an adjudicator has found. Disgruntled driver David Cass received a fine just two days after parking meters were installed in Madeira
BOURNEMOUTH council is going back to the drawing board in the hope it can come up with a solution for a congested road that does not damage local businesses. The decision comes after Seabourne Road shopkeepers asked the council to reconsider plans
DUDSBURY'S Ian Hulse will become the next Dorset Golf Union secretary when Doug Pratt from Weymouth retires at the annual meeting in March. Hulse, aged 50, has been a training manager in the civil service at West Moors for the past 10 years and beat
PIRATES boss Neil Middleditch believes the "quality" of Bjarne Pedersen and Antonio Lindback should be enough to secure them permanent wild cards into next year's Grand Prix. The Poole RIAS duo both missed out on top nine places in this season's overall
HUNDREDS of pounds of Debenhams goodies can be yours at the click of a mouse as the Daily Echo launches an exclusive on-line competition. Web readers can click to win £300 of vouchers to spend in store in the competition, which will be running until
CARETAKER boss Stuart Murdoch has warned the Cherries squad that nobody is safe from the axe. Murdoch and Joe Roach made their mark by relegating Shaun Cooper and Leon Best to the bench for Saturday's 1-1 draw against Scunthorpe. The duo, who had both
SEVEN-year-old Jade Stoner's parents paid a moving tribute to their "Princess" after she died in hospital on Monday night following a road accident. Jade was in collision with a car while riding her bike near her home in Christchurch on Sunday. Her
STREWTH! Bournemouth's Walkabout - last year labelled "out of control" by police - has been honoured by the industry as Britain's most responsible venue. The Aussie-themed Old Christchurch Road bar, which was almost closed last autumn when police launched
AFC Bournemouth is one step nearer to being given the green light to submit plans for a hotel, leisure complex and new stand at Dean Court. The football club received a welcome boost when the council's planning board agreed it could submit proposals
A CALL has been made for Poole council to use its powers of compulsory purchase and buy empty properties to house local families. An independent survey carried out in 2005 showed there were 1,070 vacant homes in the borough of which 600 were long-term
