DECISION day looms on a contentious plan to designate 12 hectares of green belt land on the outskirts of Bournemouth as a public park – and it looks set for approval.

A MERLEY resident has criticised a “ridiculous attempt” by BCP Council to appease frustration over the ‘Let it Grow’ scheme by cutting a small section of an overgrown green.

TWO people from Christchurch are among 11 who have been arrested so far by police investigating the online racial abuse of England players following the Euro 2020 final against Italy.

A MAN smashed the protective screen of a post office and “threatened to kill” a staff member after being asked for ID to cash a cheque.

THE family of a man who died in a crash near Corfe Castle last month have said he will “never be forgotten”.

BEACHGOERS were urged to stay away from the water at Boscombe after a ‘sea creature’ was spotted.

STAFF at the collapsed Peeks party supplies store won an employment tribunal claim after complaining that they were not properly consulted over their redundancies.

THOUSANDS of faithful fans turned out to give Dean Court a muddy but marvellous send-off The Daily Echo-sponsored farewell family fun day on April 29, 2001, saw thousands of people of all ages flooding into the soon-to-be-demolished home of AFC Bourn...

A CAR involved in a fatal crash in Purbeck came to a "sudden and abrupt halt" in a field after leaving the road, an inquest heard.

A RESIDENT lost their deposit and was left "distraught" after falling victim to an Airbnb rental scam.

A BUS company had to reroute services due two hour delays caused by "stationary traffic" in Poole.

THE bicycle and e-scooter provider Beryl saw rides rise by 176 per cent in the first six months of this year compared with 2020.

CHERRIES' David Brooks is excited by the start of the Championship season but heaped expectation on his own side, insisting: "We should be going up, the style of play and the quality of players that we’ve got."

A PEDESTRIAN has been involved in a crash with a car near Royal Bournemouth Hospital this morning.

THE BIG screen is returning to Bournemouth and Poole to show a range of Olympic sporting events and family-friendly films.

A MAN sent sexual messages to children across the New Forest.

BOURNEMOUTH

THE Chocolate Box Hotel in Bournemouth is teaming up with booking site LateRooms to create a Willy Wonka inspired room to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1971 film.

THE FIRST phase a 13km “green travel route” linking Merley with Christchurch is set to start next week – with an aim to complete by December.

TEN 'eco-moorings' have been introduced at Studland Bay, in a bid to protect the marine environment.

BCP Council has just taken on a new £49m loan as it continues to find itself under financial pressure.

A WOMAN who was rescued after being swept out to sea with her paddleboard has set up a fundraiser to thank the RNLI.

TWO splash parks in Bournemouth and Poole have finally reopened after maintenance issues.

SAY HELLO to five bundles of joy as we put your newborns in the spotlight.

ONE is ever mindful and appreciative of the extremely difficult and hard pressed time it has been the past two years for our NHS Service, especially for those on the frontline such as nurses and paramedics, but sadly in respect of the availability to...

THE South’s season of outdoor concerts in the grounds of stately homes went off with a bang as fireworks provided an encore at the opening night at Exbury Gardens in the New Forest.

A SCHOOL of cookery will add new courses for disadvantaged children and young people in care after being taken over by a childcare provider.

NETWORK Rail has announced three days of improvement work, resulting in major changes to Hampshire and Dorset services.

BOURNEMOUTH University has supported a local school to encourage its pupils to get excited about STEM subjects through building an electric car.

A LOCOMOTIVE will make its first run on the tracks of Wimborne Model Town’s railway layout this week.

A DONATION of £1,000 has helped children at a Bournemouth primary school improve their outdoor learning.

Can you guess which busy part of Dorset this picture was taken in?

A DAY nursery in Wimborne celebrated its 20th birthday and received the gift of being named as one of the top 20 nurseries in the UK.

Echo Camera Club member Shazz Hooper took this photo of two barn owls together in a barn window.

Weather experts at the Met Office have revitalised hopes of warmer temperatures in the weeks ahead.

HUNDREDS of objections have been tabled over plans to create a transit site for travellers in Bearwood.

THREE men stole alcohol value at more than £600 from a Tesco store in Bournemouth.

RESIDENTS from Bournemouth will take part in new research looking into a Covid vaccine that has been adapted to protect against new variants.

POOLE'S Hannah Mills became the most decorated female Olympic sailor ever with gold in the women's 470 class at Tokyo 2020.

POLICE are investigating after a woman sustained serious injuries by falling from a window.

A MAN who was spared prison for sending sexually explicit images to a 'child' has been locked up after being caught in the act again.

HEALTH Secretary Sajid Javid paid a visit to the mass vaccination centre at the BIC as it was announced 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK will be offered a Covid vaccine.

ALMOST 450 new coronavirus cases have been recorded across Dorset within the last 24-hour period, according to latest statistics.

A PATIENT has died of coronavirus at a Dorset hospital.

PEOPLE at Boscombe beach have reportedly been ordered out of the water due to an ‘investigation into marine wildlife’.

THE body discovered at Lake Pier has been confirmed as that of hero teenager Callum Baker-Osborne, Dorset Coroner has confirmed.

FRONTMAN Sam Surridge has completed his permanent move Stoke City.

AS Cherries celebrate 20 years since their move to a new stadium, the Echo looks back at the transition.

A HIGH-end delicatessen, inspired by Harrods and Selfridges, has officially opened its doors in Poole this week.

PIRATES continued their sublime SGB Championship form with a 48-42 victory over Edinburgh Monarchs at Wimborne Road.