A huge fire broke out at a festival in Purbeck on Friday evening.

Wildcats, alien cyborgs and revving engines took over New Forest streets in a riot of noise and colour.

New Forest Wildlife Park has welcomed a new pair of European grey wolves, marking the first time the animals have been at the park since October 2024.

Orchard Cafe in West Holme, Dorset, has been earning positive reviews from visitors thanks to its food and setting

A Hampshire charity is at risk of being unable to send much-needed aid to Ukraine.

A New Forest family are sitting on a 'ticking timebomb' as a long-running dispute over a deteriorating water pipe beneath their Lyndhurst home rumbles on.

Fire crews tackle more than 380 outdoor fires amid rising pressure in 2026

Tony Blackburn's 'Sounds of the 60s' tour will come to the Bournemouth Pavilion on September 16, as part of the broadcasting legend’s 2026 UK tour.

Bournemouth University is building a replica courtroom on the recommendation of its law students who wanted a realistic setting to practice their legal skills.

MSP Capital, which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year, has built new navigation, a refreshed design and a more intuitive structure into its site.

Specsavers co-founder joins Poole store's 40th anniversary celebrations with local charity partnership

S&B’s Mart Ltd seeks licence to sell alcohol 8am–10pm daily at Payless, Station Road, West Moors. Public comments to Dorset Council by 30 July 2024.

Bournemouth-based author Elwood Flynn will be holding a book signing at The Mysterious Bookcase in Westbourne today, Saturday, July 18.

Dana and Kevin Quinlan, who run the Canford Cliffs-based Dana Quinlan Hair salon, have taken ownership of House of Heels in Westbourne.

Dorset is used to star sightings, with blockbusters, Bollywood hits and even a Doctor Who regeneration filmed at one landmark.

Save Energy UK has donated to Dorset Mind's Waiting Well Crowdfunder, an initiative helping people facing long waits for mental health support

Serpentine Road eastbound, Poole, to close for SGN gas main works from 27 July to 25 September 2026. No parking/loading. Westbound lane remains open.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has named Eleanor Blakeney as its new Principal Horn ahead of the 2026/27 season.

David Davies, a resident at Care UK’s Sway Place in Church Lane, Sway, fulfilled his “dream come true” with a visit to Barton-on-Sea Golf Club.

An inquest has opened into the death of a waitress who was found unresponsive near Shaftesbury High Street.

Our Trader of the Week is The Hello Project, a Dorset events company dedicated to bringing people together through “fun” and “light-hearted” community gatherings.

A school in Christchurch has announced job cuts after a “falling birth rate” led to fewer pupils.

A woman says she is scared to leave home after a "dangerous" dog attacked her pet and terrorised her life.

A father from Poole has created an app which helps people find child-friendly pubs across the UK. Pubs With Playgrounds was created by Poole-raised TV producer and father-of-two Alastair Duncan.

BCP Council has announced its plans to invest half a million pounds into a major maintenance project that it says will improve a busy road and help prevent future potholes.

I joined the Bournemouth Town Pastors on one of their patrols- following them as they offered help and reassurance on the streets of Bournemouth.

A grandad hurt in a horrific motorbike crash in Vietnam says he feels suicidal after struggling to get NHS care back in the UK.

A man has been handed a hefty penalty notice after a short stay in a Poole car park, where he spent nearly the entire time trying to pay, and was unsuccessful.

A beautiful as Bournemouth is, there’s nothing like travel to excite the senses - and it’s that thrill that the Great Oaks Bon Voyage club brings to its care home each month. 

Families could save hundreds during the school holidays thanks to the Government's temporary VAT cut with Alton Towers, National Trust, LEGOLAND and more

HMRC has issued a fresh update to MPs after admitting a long-running State Pension tax error affected up to 1.4 million pensioners.

A 66-year-old man was rescued from a beauty hotspot after suffering a suspected fractured ankle.

The guns of the Great War had barely fallen silent when Frank Whittington came to the New Forest and started making the pine toys which would make his name.

A case management hearing has been scheduled at Reading Crown Court for a former police officer accused of causing serious injuries during an incident outside a shopping centre.

Dorset pubs in Worth Matravers, Dorchester, Swanage and more were named among England's 500 best for 2026

Courthill Road, Poole, will close for highway maintenance from 27 July–21 August 2026. Diversions and parking restrictions apply. BCP Council update.

Neil Duncan‑Jordan, the Labour MP for Poole, introduced the Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill to the House of Commons on Wednesday, July 15.

A mother and her children were minutes away from drowning in a "traumatising" incident in the sea which saw them caught in a rip tide.

A group of travellers have set up an unauthorised encampment in Poole.

An inquest has opened following the death of a man who was missing for more than two weeks.

The council has hit out at claims made by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage that "local lads" were forced to clear up mess left by asylum seekers in Bournemouth.

Officers are renewing their appeal for information from the public as searches continue for a missing Bournemouth man.

Looking for ways to keep the children entertained this summer holiday? From historic castles and wildlife encounters to farmyard fun and outdoor adventures, our local area is packed with family-friendly attractions.

The following cases were heard at Poole Magistrates' Court:

A pub has scrapped plans to turn a horse paddock into an overflow car park.

A woman in her 40s was allegedly sexually assaulted in the water near Bournemouth pier around 6pm on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

A new Wetherspoons in the New Forest now has an opening date.

An animal that was once completely eradicated from the New Forest has been spotted thriving.

A man in his 20s was taken to hospital after a motorcycle crash in Bournemouth.

Ten Dorset churches have been given £53,500 in grants for essential repairs and improvements by Dorset Historic Churches Trust (DHCT).