MOTORISTS are facing a diversion of more than an hour next week as a main road near Ringwood is closed off.

A VIOLENT knife attacker who had previously spent nine years behind bars for rape was described as a 'very dangerous man' by a judge who handed him a life sentence.

A RUN-DOWN garage on the exclusive Sandbanks peninsula has sold for over £600,000 - 2.5 times the price of the average house in Britain.

A MAN who committed five thefts from the same convenience store in the space of a matter of weeks has been banned from going to the shop.

AFTER months of being closed to the public, Highcliffe Castle reopened its doors to the public this month.

HOUSE prices increased by 1.3 per cent in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in March, new figures show.

A MAN carrying a knife carried out a convenience store robbery just over an hour after he fled empty handed from a botched robbery at another shop.

A MAN who disclosed private sexual material without the permission of a woman in the image has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

IN A WEEK filled with shocking and serious court cases many defendants left the dock out the back door.

ONLY two areas of Dorset have reported more than three active coronavirus cases, according to the latest figures.

BOURNEMOUTH

ALMOST 100 new clinical workers joined Dorset Healthcare University Trust this year, figures reveal.

A POOLE woman has been spared an immediate prison term for a series of assault and theft offences.

MORE firing will take place on the Lulworth Ranges next week, a public notice has confirmed.

Food allergies, salmonella poisoning and Hepatitis A are just some of the reasons behind a number of urgent product recalls across the UK.

We've rounded-up some of the highlights to look out for in each supermarket.

A PUBLIC art project, a community play and an audio trail are among the cultural activities planned for Poole High Street, thanks to an £80,000 grant.

The Eurovision Song Contest has introduced some of the world’s biggest musical stars to the world including Celine Dion, Bonnie Tyler and ABBA.

Although Census Day took place on 21 March, the official closing date for the online form is Monday 24 May.

BOURNEMOUTH has been named as one of the top staycation destinations for 2021.

TODAY we say hello to five of your loveable, furry friends as we put them in the spotlight.

CAN you give any of these pets a forever home?

DOZENS of older people across Dorset fell on their local council for support over just one year after having their savings largely wiped out through paying for care, figures suggest.

Catching a lift are these two cygnets at Poole Park taken by Julia Rosser of the Echo Camera Club

A MAN has been handed a life sentence for attacking three females in a night of violence in Bournemouth.

PERSISTENT strong winds battered the south coast today, causing trees to fall, roads to be closed and even part of a house in Christchurch to fall on top of a parked car.

NEW automatic speed restrictions will be in force on licensed e-scooters across the promenade in Bournemouth.

Latest updates as strong winds hit Dorset

A MAN who dealt cocaine on the streets of Bournemouth has been jailed for more than two years.

HEALTH bosses have defended the decision to offer university students in Bournemouth a Covid vaccination at the BIC.

THE South West's 'R rate' has stayed the same as the national R rate has grown, according to the latest Government update.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to allow a seafront restaurant in Mudeford to serve takeaway alcohol have been approved.

THE Red Arrows and the Typhoon have been confirmed for this year's Bournemouth Air Festival.

COSY, charming and full of history.

DEVELOPERS have launched plans for more than 50 new homes on the side of a main route through Christchurch in a "gateway location".

“IT REALLY IS THE MOST HEART-WRENCHING STORY.”

UNDER 10 new positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Dorset, according to the latest figures.