Local news for the Dorset Coast powered by the Echo

Dorset Council is reminding people on the Housing Register to renew their application before the new Housing Allocations Policy comes into effect on September 1

Residents, landowners and businesses are being invited to take part in a public consultation on the revised draft New Forest National Park Local Plan.

Ringwood Town Council has installed the new bleed control kit at Carvers Recreation Ground, alongside an existing public access defibrillator.

HMRC is reminding families to extend their Child Benefit claims by August 31 to avoid losing payments if they have an applicable child aged 16 to 19.

Residents at Kings Park Care Home in Ferndown were delighted to welcome therapy dogs Umber and his daughter, Iris, from Helpful Hounds.

The Swanage Seaside Special will take place on Shore Road on Saturday, August 22, featuring four live puppet shows starting from 12pm.

Arsenic & Ashes: The Trial of Charlotte Bryant will be published by Banquo Books on August 25 and will be available from all good bookshops and online retailers

The Mediaeval Baebes will perform at Christchurch Priory on December 2 as part of their 30th anniversary tour.

Homeowners are being warned to check contractors' credentials to avoid falling victim to fraudulent claims

Four siblings have moved from Australia to Boscombe to pursue their ballroom dancing dreams, with each of the siblings receiving a £381 grant from the DCF.

Residents from Colten Care's Fernhill dementia care home in Longham have enjoyed a hands-on day at High Mead Farm, reconnecting with animals and nature.

A multi-million-pound hypercar, childhood poster cars and rare classics will be on show at a major motoring event in Dorset this weekend

Mandi Barron will head the Pride in Place Board for Boscombe West, guiding the long-term funding programme over the next 10 years.

Two decades ago, unimaginable grief sparked a region-wide wave of defiant joy that culminated in the unforgettable Daisy Fun Days.

Before ‘active lifestyle’ became a buzzword, beloved TV chef Lesley Waters swapped her mixing bowls for a safety harness in the New Forest.

Talks are ongoing to secure part of the former Poole Civic Centre for use by the town council

BCP Council is rethinking their approach to the Bournemouth Pier repairs as no contractor has been found due to the scale and cost

The following cases were heard at Poole Magistrates' Court:

Residents who 'take their lives into their hands' every time they leave their homes are calling for urgent safety action on a 'dangerous' stretch of road.

Up to 20 jobs are expected to be lost after Brittany Ferries announced it would axe its Poole route to France.

These old photos show the world-famous beauty spot of Lulworth Cove over the years

Purbeck Cider launches People’s Choice cider in Dorset, donating £1 per litre sold to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Community-grown apples support charity.

Plans for a new 'build your own' waterfront home with panoramic views have been approved for a site in Dorset

Dorset is the location for Mike Leigh's Play For Today, Nuts in May, which is free to watch on BBC iPlayer

A YouTube video provides an insightful look at Brownsea Island in 1962.

Only Fools and Horses repeats are as popular as ever this Christmas - but did you know that the classic BBC comedy was not once, but twice filmed in Dorset?

Sandbanks Ferry staff were 'verbally abused' by passengers during a temporary suspension.

Hundreds of jobs are to be created at a holiday park as part of a major nationwide investment.