BBC Dorset

Our Weather Watchers have once again been out and about capturing beautiful images of the south of England.Join us as we take a few moments to relax and enjoy the beauty of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight through the stunning pictures that have been sent to us over the past seven days.Upload your images via BBC Weather Watchers or email us at southweather@bbc.co.uk.How to submit a pictureUpload your images via BBC Weather Watchers or…

Getty ImagesBeach huts on Mudeford Spit have sold for hundreds of thousands of poundsPlans to make beach hut owners pay full council tax and a learner driver being refused his driving test were among this week's most popular reads.We have picked five stories from the past seven days across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Berkshire and Oxfordshire to keep you up to date.Beach hut owners' anger at council tax changeGetty ImagesBCP Council said the change could raise…

Stuart RustSouth of England BBCHuge crowds gathered for Reading Festival in 2025Summer may still feel a long way off but event planning for the months ahead is already well under way. From large-scale music festivals to small local favourites, organisers across the south of England have been revealing what is in store for 2026.Here is a guide to the festivals happening near you in the year ahead.OxfordshireThe Cuban Brothers perform at Big Feastival in 2024Oxford Literary Festival, 21-29…

The closure of a town's last bank is "not easy for older people" and may affect businesses and charities, a chamber of commerce chairman has said.Lloyds Bank shut its branch in Gillingham, Dorset, on Thursday.It will open a fortnightly banking session, which does not allow deposits or withdrawals, in the town's library on 19 January.Barry Von Clemens, who chairs the Gillingham chamber and is a charity director, said the community service "doesn't help anybody".Gillingham is among 40 Lloyds…

Test your knowledge of news from Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight with our quiz. Source link

The impact of Storm Goretti on the south was less severe than anticipated, with snow only falling in higher areas.Several containers fell from two cargo ships off the Isle of Wight amid strong winds.Snow was reported in areas including Chipping Norton and Nettlebed in Oxfordshire overnight.There was disruption in Dorset with flooding and gusts of up to 65mph (105km/h).Prof Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Reading-based Royal Meteorological Society, said wet roads and pavements were likely to turn…

Sophie CridlandSouth of EnglandBBCSam Rod grew up watching the waves on Portland with his parents in DorsetWave watching during a storm is something of a tradition for people living on an island on the south coast of England. So while most people were happy to be dry inside, Sam Rod who in lives on Portland in Dorset headed out into weather to see the nearly nine-metre-high tidal surge during Storm Goretti."About 20:30 GMT I came up here, and…

Storm Goretti brought disruption to Dorset with flooding and gusts of up to 65mph (105km/h).Portland Beach Road, which links Wyke Regis with Portland, was closed for several hours as waves crashed over the causeway.Dorset Council said the storm brought stronger winds and heavier rain than expected following a forecast of snow.Snow did settle on higher ground in the north of the county where roads were gritted twice overnight.The authority said it had about 100 people on standby, attended…

A council is to reconsider its approval for a new Aldi supermarket after a challenge by retail rival Lidl.The £7m store at Canford Bottom roundabout was granted planning permission by Dorset Council in September, against the advice of the authority's officers.Lidl subsequently wrongly accused councillors of giving no justification for their decision, the council said.Officers are recommending them to reapprove the store and give fuller reasons at a meeting on Wednesday.A report to the Eastern Area Planning Committee…