dorset

National TrustStanding at 180ft (55m) tall, the Cerne Giant is sculpted into the chalk hillside above Cerne AbbasA £330,000 appeal to buy the land surrounding the Cerne Abbas Giant has been launched.The National Trust is hoping to raise the money to help fund the purchase and care of 138 hectares (341 acres) surrounding the ancient naked figure sculpted into the chalk in Dorset.So far over £2m has been raised to buy the swathe of land known as giant's…

Boat users of three harbours in Dorset could face higher fees, according to a report.Dorset Council is looking to implement a minimum 3.4% increase to charges at Bridport, Lyme Regis and Weymouth harbours, although some exceptions have been made.The proposed changes, outlined in the report to the Harbours Advisory Committee, aim to keep the facilities financially sustainable while remaining competitive with other ports.Winter mooring fees at West Bay and Lyme Regis would remain unchanged and, following feedback, boat…

Planning permission to demolish a hotel is set to be revoked after developers failed to fulfil their planning obligations.MHA Burleigh Poole was granted permission in 2023 to replace Poole Quay Hotel, in Poole, with commercial units, flats and a new hotel, subject to a Section 106 agreement that required it to contribute to local services.But in March 2024, the hotel closed suddenly and the firm went into liquidation.A planning committee at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) has…

A fire that broke out in a bin lorry was "quite likely" caused by a crushed battery, a council has said. A crew from Dorset Council noticed smoke coming from the rear of their vehicle in Wimborne town centre earlier.They ejected the contents of the lorry to prevent damage and the flames were quickly put out by the fire service. No-one was injured, and the authority said the road surface had now been cleaned and swept. In a…

The drivers of three cars and a van are being urged to come forward to police after a 17-year-old motorcyclist died following a crash with a lorry.The crash, involving a DAF truck and a silver motorcycle, happened on the Safety Drive roundabout in Poole on Friday at about 17:00 GMT. The rider of the motorcycle, a 17-year-old boy from North Dorset died at the scene. The truck driver was uninjured.Dorset Police said it believed the drivers of a…

Tristan PascoeDorset political reporterBBCChildren at Queen's Park Academy School in Bournemouth already learn about personal financeAll primary and secondary school pupils in the south are set to be taught about financial matters under changes to the national curriculum.Children will have lessons in budgets, money management, mortgages and compound interest.The new curriculum is expected to be ready in 2028.Some teachers have warned that the changes will require training and support for staff before being implemented.But one headteacher told BBC…

Marcus WhiteSouth of EnglandParnham EstateParnham House was largely destroyed by a fire in 2017A designer housing estate with its own natural outdoor swimming pool and padel court could be built to fund repairs to a fire-hit stately home.Dorset Council has published a planning application for Grade I listed Parnham House, near Beaminster, Dorset, which was gutted in a suspected arson attack in 2017.Former rave promoter James Perkins, who bought the property in 2020, wants to build 82 "quality"…

Sophie CridlandSouth of EnglandBBCA glitter of Christmas elves appeared in Weymouth for the world record attemptHundreds of people took to the streets with pointy ears, wearing red and green, in an attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as elves.The entourage of elves paraded through Weymouth on Saturday, as they tried to beat Thailand, the current holders of the festive title.Some travelled from as far as Wales, Winchester and Yeovil to show…

More than 800 candles were displayed along a waterfront, each carrying a personal dedication in memory of lost loved ones. Poole Quay, in Dorset, was illuminated in a sea of light on Saturday for families and friends to remember their loved ones and to support Lewis-Manning hospice.The event, which was free, raised funds for Lewis-Manning's free hospice services via the public pre-ordering candles or by donating on the night.The hospice said money raised would help provide more than…