county news

Police investigate reported attack at Bournemouth park

Police investigate reported attack at Bournemouth park

A cordon has been set up at a park as police investigate a reported rape.Dorset Police said a woman, aged in her 30s, reported being attacked by a man in a wooded area off Maxwell Road in Bournemouth at about 21:20 GMT on Wednesday.The force said a detailed investigation was being carried out and the victim was being supported by specially trained officers.Police remain at Winton Recreation Ground carrying out inquiries and urged anyone with information or concerns…

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Missing flamingo spotted flying over estuary

Missing flamingo spotted flying over estuary

A bird spotted flying over an estuary in Cornwall has been confirmed to be missing flamingo Frankie.Frankie escaped from Paradise Park in Hayle on Sunday morning, despite having her wings clipped.The park team confirmed a sighting of a large bird flying over the Hayle estuary at about 12:30 BST on Sunday was the missing flamingo."It helps show how she looks when flying, and she appears much pinker in flight than we expected," the park said.The public has been…

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Fatal A396 Somerset coach crash reconstruction carried out by police

Fatal A396 Somerset coach crash reconstruction carried out by police

Chloe HarcombeWest of EnglandBBCThe A396 was closed on Wednesday while police carried out a partial reconstruction of a fatal coach crashPolice investigating a fatal school coach crash have conducted a partial reconstruction to help them work out the circumstances which led to the incident.Oliver Price, 10, died of a head injury when a coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils left the A396 near Wheddon Cross in Somerset and slid down a 6m (20ft) slope on 17 July.Avon and…

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Beaver supermoon captured over the south of England

Beaver supermoon captured over the south of England

ArtickleThe moon was glowing over Crowmarsh Gifford, Oxfordshire, in this picture by BBC Weather Watcher ArticklePhotographers across the south of England have been sharing their pictures of the Beaver supermoon.The largest, brightest Moon of the year rose on Wednesday with many areas of Dorset, Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire lucky enough to have a clear sky.The Beaver Moon was bigger and brighter than earlier supermoons this year due to the fact that it is the closest full Moon to…

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Cornish Pirates searching for improvements ahead of Nottingham trip

Cornish Pirates searching for improvements ahead of Nottingham trip

Cornish Pirates coach Joe Walsh says the Champ side have spent this week looking at how they can improve.The Penzance club beat previously unbeaten Caldy 34-27 on Saturday to move up to sixth in the Champ.But the coaching staff were critical despite the win as Pirates gave away a large number of penalties."We're not happy at all with our level of performance," Walsh told BBC Radio Cornwall ahead of their trip to Nottingham on Friday."There's large parts of…

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Man jailed for raping two women in their own homes in Poole

Man jailed for raping two women in their own homes in Poole

A rapist has been jailed for attacking two vulnerable women in their own homes within hours of each other.Daniel Hart, 29, raped a woman in her 70s in Poole, Dorset, after entering her home during the night. Hours later, on 15 May, he attacked a woman in her 40s in her flat.Police said the elderly woman had dementia while the second victim was also "a vulnerable woman with disabilities".Hart, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the rape…

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‘Convincing’ Torquay United secure 3-1 victory at Farnborough

‘Convincing’ Torquay United secure 3-1 victory at Farnborough

Boss Paul Wotton has praised his Torquay United side after their 3-1 win at Farnborough in National League South.The victory was just a second away win of the season for the Gulls, who move up to sixth place in the table.Louis Dennis gave the Gulls the perfect start as he put them 2-0 up inside the first 15 minutes.The forward fired in from close range in the second minute before being in the right place at the right…

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Yeovil students create their own shoe designs on work experience

Yeovil students create their own shoe designs on work experience

BBCStudents were tasked with creating a shoe for 14-15 year-oldsMore than 100 students have taken part in a new work experience project where they create their own shoe design for a world renowned shoemaker.The scheme, in Yeovil, Somerset, is different to the normal type of work experience where one student usually shadows an employer.Year 11 students from Preston School, Castle School and Westfield Academy worked in teams to reimagine Somerset shoemakers Clarks, for a new generation of 14…

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Hopes for Dorset Council road improvement funding boost

Hopes for Dorset Council road improvement funding boost

Stephen StaffordSouth of EnglandGoogleThe A30 bridge at Shaftesbury is among the repair projects that could be fundedRoad improvements in Dorset could receive a £115m funding boost, the county council has said.Dorset Council's Highways Capital Programme Strategy has been released with plans for spending on roads over the next four years.It said it could potentially receive extra funding from central government for projects including the including repairs to the A30 Shaftesbury Bridge, on top of £15.5m confirmed for work…

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A guide to Remembrance services across the West Country

A guide to Remembrance services across the West Country

Alexandra BassinghamWest of EnglandBBCHundreds of handmade poppies were attached to a fence overlooking Clevedon's pier last yearMilitary personnel will be honoured during Remembrance services across the West Country this weekend.Thousands of people are expected to attend parades ahead of a two-minute silence held at 11:00 GMT on Sunday 9 November. There will also be wreath-laying at cenotaphs and memorials. Events are being held across Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, with residents in towns and villages attending.Road closures will…

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