News in Dorchester

Dorset farmers are thanking the local hospital that saved their son's life - with the launch of a fundraising sunflower trail.

A farming couple from Dorchester have come up with a colourful way to raise money for the Special Care Baby Unit which helped their premature son, as he celebrates his 18th birthday.

There will continue to be overnight closures along the A35 around Dorchester for the next four weeks.

Drivers should be aware that this week - Monday, July 19 to Friday, July 23 - the A35 between Monkey Jump roundabout and Stinsford roundabout will be closed from 8pm to 6am.

Weldmar Hospicecare has launched a brand new service to provide care and support at home for patients and their loved ones.

Described by the director of nursing, Caroline Sweetland, as "one of the most exciting expansions to our service in some time", Weldmar at Home has been made possible thanks to a successful appeal earlier in the year.

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for extreme heat covering Dorchester.

So, we caught up with Tom at Joey's Doggie Day Care to see if he had any tips on helping to keep your dogs cool during the heatwave.

Oscar Wilde's classic comedy The Importance of Being Earnest is reimagined at Dorchester Maumbury Rings next week.

Ripping up the recipe book and dishing out a hectic, two-actor production of Oscar Wilde's classic play, audiences are invited to tuck into a picnic and join in the silliness at Maumbury Rings on Thursday, July 29 at 7pm.

We have introduced a walk of the week for our newsletter subscribers to enjoy over the weekend.

Each Friday we will be sharing a circular walk in and around our local area with directions and photos. We use the OS Map app, which is very useful if you are out walking.

A 55-year-old local man has been arrested for drink driving.

The arrest was made after Dorchester police received some community intelligence about a regular drink driver in Cerne Abbas.

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for extreme heat covering Dorchester.

It says we should expect:

The pandemic has reduced the costs associated with Dorchester's mayor – largely because of a lack of public events to attend.

Councillor Richard Biggs served two years in the post because of the pandemic with the new mayor, Cllr Gareth Jones, taking office at an outdoor ceremony in the Borough Gardens, thought to be the first time the event has been held outdoors.

Every week we will be sharing a circular walk in and around our local area with directions and photos. We use the OS Map app, which is very useful if you are out walking.

If you subscribe to our newsletter, you will be able to receive the walk first every Friday and be able to enjoy it over the weekend.