
Rail seats boost for Bournemouth routes
Bournemouth passengers are due to benefit from 60,000 extra weekly CrossCountry seats as eight additional Voyager trains are added to the network from 2027 to 2028.

Bournemouth passengers are due to benefit from 60,000 extra weekly CrossCountry seats as eight additional Voyager trains are added to the network from 2027 to 2028.

Three play areas in Bournemouth and Poole are being upgraded with new inclusive equipment, themed designs and facilities shaped by local families.

Ministers have been asked to consider how regional ports such as Poole could support trade, tourism and travel after the Barfleur’s final sailing to Cherbourg.

Fire authority papers say the A31 blaze was the service’s largest incident, with crews dealing with a sharp rise in outdoor fires during July and August.

BCP Council is proposing leases of up to 50 years for recreation land in Poole Park, Iford Playing Fields and Broadstone Recreation Ground, while keeping public access.

Councillors will consider adding former Upton Park Farm land to Upton Country Park, with plans for new paths, wildlife habitats and better local links around Holes Bay and Hamworthy.

Brittany Ferries’ Barfleur has made its final sailing from Poole to Cherbourg after more than 30 years on the route.

Volunteers with Home-Start Wessex have received county recognition for supporting families across Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and wider Dorset, as the charity recruits more helpers.

Bournemouth filmmakers were recognised as 55 awards were presented at the town's international film festival.

Residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can attend a Bournemouth Pavilion screening about climate change, nature loss and local action, followed by a question and answer panel.

Charminster Library remains closed while BCP Council continues repairs, with asbestos removed from the roof and Winton and Castlepoint libraries open for local residents during the closure.

Work to stabilise Bournemouth’s East Cliff is expected to start this winter, with approved plans covering cliff reprofiling, safety fencing and removal of unsafe structures above the promenade.

Police are asking witnesses and drivers with dashcam footage to help after a man aged 18 died in a collision on the A352 Wareham Road in Wareham.

Thousands of runners joined Run Bournemouth 2026, raising more than £500,000 for charities over the weekend.

Plans for 184 student homes in central Bournemouth have been approved, with further housing, restoration and affordable homes projects also being progressed across the BCP area.

BCP Council says a remaining schools grant deficit and rising care costs are adding to financial pressure across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as it asks ministers for further support.

A Dorset fundraising challenge run by YMCA Bournemouth is expanding to Gillingham School in 2026 after support from local businesses and Dorset Chamber members helped it involve 20 schools and colleges.

A peer review has recognised Dorset Council’s leadership and partnerships, while advising clearer priorities, stronger accountability and careful planning for long-term financial sustainability as the final report is awaited.

Tom Hayes says BCP Council should rethink the procurement process for SOBO Beach before councillors vote this Tuesday on a new lease for the Southbourne site.

Developer contributions held by BCP Council are earmarked for flood defences, transport improvements, habitat mitigation and community projects across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, according to new figures.

A new Ryanair service will connect Bournemouth Airport with Porto twice a week from summer 2027, adding another direct European route for local travellers who want city breaks or longer holidays.

A new campaign is asking drivers across Dorset to slow down, put phones away, wear seatbelts and choose a safe way home after drinking.

Thousands of pupils in Dorset will have new opportunities to experience live orchestral music this year.

A new adult safeguarding report for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole records 6,428 alerts in a year and highlights risks including neglect, financial harm and incidents at home.

Detectives are trying to identify a man whose body was found in the water near Sandbanks Quay, with Dorset Police releasing details of his clothing and appearance.

Pharmacy openings, relocations and ownership changes across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will be reviewed as part of the area’s Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, which supports local healthcare planning.

Couples planning a wedding can explore new accommodation and facilities at Compton Acres in Poole this October.

More than 150 Dorset businesses will be offered support through a new programme launching in November.

A winning EuroMillions ticket bought in Dorset for a June draw has not been claimed, with the ticket holder given until December to come forward.

Poole shoppers are being asked to donate new and unopened toiletries at The Dolphin this month, with items going to Dorset young carers supported by MYTIME.

At least 10 staff at Lighthouse Poole are preparing to circle Brownsea Island by water to support the venue’s Big Christmas Appeal for local audiences.

Hundreds more bus journeys are planned across Dorset as part of a seven year transport programme.

Councillors will consider moving services from Bournemouth’s Civic Annex into nearby civic buildings, with borrowing expected to be repaid through any later site sale as part of a disposal plan.

Buses were diverted in Bournemouth after reports of young people throwing rocks at passing vehicles.

A Dorset farmer has shared how family farming, health challenges and a new padel venture shaped his approach to business at a leaders’ lunch in Bournemouth.

Households across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can now renew or apply for the 2027 garden waste service, which will provide 23 fortnightly collections when the scheme runs between January and December.

Residents in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can use Homewise for tailored advice on insulation, heating upgrades and other ways to lower energy use at home.

A licensing application would allow a KFC site at Wessex Gate Retail Park in Poole to serve hot food and drinks later each night if approved by BCP Council.

People living near Boscombe and Southbourne Overcliff Drive have raised safety concerns over overnight motorhome stays, while BCP Council says reports are investigated and wider feedback is still being considered locally.

A council vote on 13 October will decide the next stage for the Southbourne Coast Road site, where SOBO Beach says delays could affect any new opening.

More than 60 films will be screened as Bournemouth International Film Festival returns this weekend.

Police have arrested three people in Boscombe after reports of a shoplifting incident and threats in the street near Christchurch Road, with a knife and hammer seized during the response.

Government approval has moved the BCP SEND reform plan towards delivery, with extra oversight and funding support now linked to improvements for local children and families.

Dorset Police is marking the first National Cadets Week by highlighting cadets and volunteer leaders in Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and two other county units this week.

Female footballers in Dorset are sharing experiences of sideline abuse as police, football partners and AFC Bournemouth support action to improve behaviour in grassroots games across the county.

A Poole model railway club is marking its 70th year with a two day exhibition.

BCP Council has served an enforcement notice on Lorenzo’s Restaurant in Bournemouth, requiring an unauthorised rear extension to be demolished after officers raised planning and neighbourhood concerns.

Private renters across Dorset are being asked to complete an anonymous survey about the Renters’ Rights Act and the support they need to understand new protections.

More than 1,300 people have responded to a Dorset consultation on possible police reforms, with local policing, visibility and accountability among the main issues raised by residents and organisations.

Monthly family film screenings are continuing at Lighthouse Poole with National Lottery backed support, including creative workshops after each showing for children and families.

Louise Balaam has been appointed Chief Executive of Dorset Community Foundation, bringing 20 years of experience.

A council plan to improve SEND support across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is moving forward locally while ministers prepare their response to wider reform proposals for schools.

A power cut at Bournemouth station is disrupting all lines, affecting trains travelling through Bournemouth.

A man has died following an incident near Bournemouth Pier on Sunday afternoon.

The public consultation on BCP’s 15 year Local Plan has been moved to November because of the Penn Hill Ward by election, with housing and infrastructure evidence due to be considered.

Children across Dorset are being encouraged to cycle to school during a national campaign this October.

Skittles players from Poole have returned from a national competition in Torquay with 5 trophies and titles.

Dorset Police has released a video for parents and guardians to warn them about the risks after reports of young people entering derelict sites increased.

NHS staff, friends and families walked from Poole Hospital to Royal Bournemouth Hospital to support extra facilities for the new Children’s Unit opening in spring 2027.

Magna Carta in Ashley Cross can sell alcohol and play recorded music until two am at weekends after councillors rejected a later finish following noise objections.

Dorset Council has approved plans to convert a former pub near Cranborne Chase into four homes, with two more homes built on the same site after five years empty.

Plans have been submitted to turn a Bournemouth building into a vehicle repair and MOT station, with facilities intended to support electric, petrol and diesel cars.

Revised planning proposals would create nine flats in a Bournemouth Victorian building, with a rear roof extension, larger layouts, private terraces and improved cycle storage.

A 20 year lease for the Southbourne Promenade site occupied by SoBo Beach will go to full council, with councillors set to receive a confidential briefing first.

A retrospective planning application has been submitted for 29 holiday flats at the Glendevon Hotel on West Hill Road in Bournemouth.

A Bournemouth rider has been given an 18 month prison sentence after a young boy was seriously injured by an illegal electric motorbike in Christchurch, with police warning about public use of such vehicles.

A vacant seafront cafe in Bournemouth has moved closer to a new lease after BCP Council’s cabinet backed sending the contract to full council later this month for a decision.

Children’s activity providers from across Dorset met at SOBO Beach Bar in Bournemouth for the first local Children’s Activities Association regional event held in the county.

Detectives investigating the death of Mackala Higgins in Paddington Grove say Richard Sean Ball, 56, has now also been charged with murder and is due before magistrates today.

A Restart a Heart training event in Boscombe will give people a chance to learn CPR, practise on manikins and understand how to use a defibrillator.

A resident used the BCP LIFE card on family visits in Bournemouth and Poole, finding one discount while saying the scheme could help more as businesses join.

Bournemouth Town Council will seek water quality reports and Environment Agency input after residents raised concerns about reported E. coli contamination in Christchurch Harbour and the River Stour.

Drivers in Bournemouth are being advised that parking on part of St Swithun’s Road will be suspended for nine days while SGN carries out works.

Bournemouth’s new town council will organise the town’s official Remembrance Sunday service in Central Gardens for the first time, with the two minute silence at 11am.

Councillors have delayed a decision on five community safety officers for Bournemouth town centre while they review crime analysis, an operational plan and a detailed breakdown before voting.

Bournemouth Town Council will examine next year’s precept through a committee report after councillors delayed a proposal to commit to no rise for residents.

BCP Council is backing new work to protect Christchurch Harbour, including support for bathing water designation and a framework to guide future management for residents and stakeholders.

A £15,000 post-production prize is being introduced at this year’s Bournemouth International Film Festival.
A Bournemouth conference will bring founders, creatives, technologists, educators and students together to discuss AI, future skills and digital creativity across the BCP area this October.

Residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being given clearer recycling guidance after council checks found many items in recycling bins could not be recycled properly.

Young people aged eight to 17 joined summer activities at Townsend and Chatterboxes, with YMCA Bournemouth highlighting friendship, confidence and youth leadership through local clubs.

A Poole plant sale this Saturday will clear thousands of home grown plants while raising money for Chestnut Nursery’s therapeutic horticulture work with adults facing mental health conditions.

The Chicago Bears are bringing two days of American football events to Bournemouth this weekend.

Christchurch Quay Splash Park has ended its extended season after warm September weather gave families two extra weeks, following summer repairs and a reliable run.

A Dorset charity supporting young carers has won a national award and is preparing to bring more than 200 young people to Bournemouth University for an Employability Summit in November.

Christchurch town centre will go traffic free for a festive event with performers, market stalls, music, Father Christmas, a laser display and a lights switch on.

Police want to hear from witnesses and drivers with dashcam footage after an A31 collision in Ferndown which involved two cars and a passenger who later died.

Town councillors have agreed to start conversations about whether Bournemouth could host the National Motor Museum when its lease at Beaulieu ends, with partners asked to test local support.

Penn Hill residents in Poole are set to vote in November after Councillor Jo Clements resigned from BCP Council for personal reasons, with key registration and application deadlines now confirmed.

Figures released under Freedom of Information rules show 351 EHCP assessment cases in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have exceeded the legal 20 week deadline, with one current wait now at 226 weeks.

Hurn residents have until 12 October to request a parish council election, with 10 local electors needed to trigger a vote for the vacant seat.

Part of Gervis Place in Bournemouth is expected to reopen in early 2027, with work continuing on new bus shelters, resurfacing and live travel displays.

A cycling programme for people with hip pain in Bournemouth has won a national research prize.

Cherry Tree Nursery in Northbourne has welcomed Dorset’s Lord Lieutenant, who praised its horticultural therapy programme for adults with mental health conditions during a visit to Bournemouth.

A 120 mile walk from Bushey to Bournemouth has raised more than £90,000 for the Hunt Family Fund, which supports work to prevent violence against women.

Will Young is set to return to Bournemouth on his Evergreen 25th Anniversary Tour, with a full band performance covering hits from more than two decades in music.

A new public appeal aims to upgrade 288 defibrillators carried by Community First Responders who support patients before ambulance crews arrive across the South West in emergencies.

Relatives of serving Dorset Police officer PC Alex Ayre have shared words of remembrance, describing the love, laughter and friendship he brought to those around him.

Artists and makers have a new registration window for the 2027 event, which will bring open studios, workshops, group shows and exhibitions to venues across Dorset.

A hospital nurse has received a seven year prison sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting a patient at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, where the woman had been taken after becoming unwell.

ElderFest is expanding to Poole and Bournemouth this October, alongside its returning Christchurch event.

Police have released a CCTV image after a woman in her 40s was reportedly grabbed by the throat at The Rising Sun in Wimborne.

Police are seeking witnesses and dashcam footage after a man in his 20s was seriously injured in a four-vehicle collision on the B3082 near Wimborne.

Police investigating an incident at a Portland cash machine say a man in his 40s was assaulted, with a Poole man among two people arrested.

Pat Dartnell has celebrated her 104th birthday with family and friends at her New Milton care home.

Plans for JP Morgan’s Chaseside campus in Bournemouth include an outdoor terrace, gym and table tennis area, with the application now open for consultation until October 16.

Bournemouth East Tom Hayes MP has welcomed a new scheme offering first-time buyers a route into home ownership.

Proposed traffic restrictions on Holdenhurst Road would prioritise buses, taxis, cyclists and vehicles needing access as BCP Council consults on changes near Station Roundabout and Lansdowne in Bournemouth.

A motor group wants to expand into Poole and west Bournemouth with a commercial site that could create around 26 jobs and include EV charging points.

Plans before BCP Council include women’s team facilities, a larger stand, floodlights for another pitch and 74 extra parking spaces at Knighton Lane as public comments are invited.

Councillors will consider the next operator for the SoBo Beach site in Southbourne after BCP Council received five expressions of interest for the seafront premises.

BCP Council’s cabinet will review plans for the vacant West Beach Promenade hospitality site after a tender process shortlisted three operators from 13 expressions of interest this Wednesday.

A new sculpture on Bournemouth’s West Cliff has drawn both criticism and support after being installed through a UK Government funded coastal art and heritage project.

Green space improvements at Poole Park will add trees, waterside planting, sensory play and access upgrades, with work due to begin in early October around the freshwater lake and nearby routes.

Peter Cooper has become Labour’s first member of Poole Town Council after winning Hamworthy East, following the resignation of Reform UK councillor Daniel Bleeze two months into his term.

The railway between Poole and Bournemouth was blocked this morning after an incident in Branksome.

RNLI lifeguards will finish their final patrols of the year on 4 local beaches this Sunday.

Long term transport plans could bring Bournemouth's Branksome East viaduct back into railway use, while BCP Council says no decision has been made on its future and inspections continue.

A new sculpture on Bournemouth’s West Cliff has been shaped by local schoolchildren and community groups as part of a government funded heritage trail.

A family-run food business has opened its first restaurant at The Dolphin in Poole town centre.

Bournemouth University features in a new film written and directed by graduate student Aditya Haasan.

The gym and fitness facilities at Bournemouth’s Littledown Centre are set for a £1 million investment.

Voters in Hamworthy East will choose a Poole Town Council representative tomorrow after Daniel Bleeze resigned, with six candidates standing and photo ID needed at polling stations.

A youth club will reopen at The Grove in Upton this autumn for local young people.

A cofounder of Bournemouth planning firm KPPC has retired after 23 years with the business.

More than 100 residents have volunteered after an open day at Swanmore Gardens, where plans were discussed for restoring the pavilion and keeping the site in community use.

Bournemouth Pavilion’s Terrace Bistro has received Tripadvisor recognition and will stay open through Arts by the Sea Festival before closing for the season on Sunday.
A one day Oktoberfest event at The Treehouse in Christchurch will include Bavarian themed food, drinks and entertainment, with standing, seated and VIP tickets available on 24 October.

Police are seeking witnesses and dashcam footage after a silver car was involved in a collision with a pedestrian near a Wimborne school and failed to stop.

A man aged 43 has been jailed after CCTV enquiries connected him with burglaries and thefts in Poole and Lytchett Minster, including offences against a business and a resident.

Bournemouth University students have reached the final of a national award with their game Don’t Croak.

A controlled toucan crossing is planned for Highcliffe Road in Christchurch, with residents able to comment on the proposals before the consultation deadline next month.

Songwriter Ian W Brown will bring stories from music and film to Lighthouse Poole next April.

Police want witnesses and dashcam footage after a 19 year old Bournemouth motorcyclist suffered serious injuries in a collision with a car in Ferndown on Sunday afternoon.

The Poole Library and Customer Service Hub site is now expected to reopen on Monday, October 19 after nesting gulls delayed roof work linked to RAAC removal.

Police say a green Volkswagen Beetle was damaged on Christchurch bypass after a scooter was thrown at it, and officers want witnesses or dashcam footage.

A Freedom of Information response shows 351 Education, Health and Care Plan assessment cases in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are beyond the legal 20 week deadline.

BCP Council is reviewing evidence on Green Belt sites as it prepares consultation on how to plan for future homes across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole under Government targets.

Dorset Police want witnesses and dashcam footage after a Ford KA hit the central reservation on the A35 near Litton Cheney yesterday. The driver was not injured.

Priory Car Park in Christchurch will return to church management from 28 November, with council permits and parking arrangements no longer applying after BCP Council’s lease ends.

Residents, businesses and stakeholders are set to be consulted from 29 October on evidence which will shape future homes, services and infrastructure across the BCP area.

A Poole man has been arrested and bailed after a Costa drive through window on Safety Drive was smashed and a cash till was stolen last Tuesday.

The Sandbanks Ferry will be withdrawn for seven weeks during a scheduled major refit this November.

Radio Version Main Story Tourism and hospitality businesses across BCP have reached the finals of the DMB Tourism Awards 2026.

Dorset Police is highlighting signs of spiking as the county prepares to welcome new university students, with officers urging anyone affected to get help and report quickly.

Seventy people in Dorset are awaiting transplants, and residents are being asked to record their organ donation choice and discuss it with loved ones as family consent rates fall across the UK.

Families are invited to join a new Christmas event in Poole, with a seafront mile, fancy dress and Santa’s Grotto for younger participants.

Lidl has applied to install illuminated and externally lit signs at its planned Westover Retail Park store in Bournemouth, with consultation open until September 30.

A new study and social hub is opening in Bournemouth town centre, with refurbished space for students to work, meet others and access training information.

Canford Heath Infant School wants a modular music building after its previous specialist classroom was converted to increase SEND support for pupils in Poole, with consultation now under way.

Plans to refurbish part of Bournemouth's O2 Academy would open unused areas to the public and add a disabled toilet, first aid room and storage space under proposals now in consultation.

Blue Badge applicants in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will use a new council digital system from 13 October, with online tracking, document uploads and a phased changeover.

Wareham Town Council is considering a temporary Town Hall service after the North Street Post Office closed, with concerns also raised about Canford Heath and local banking access.

Cyclists raising money for two charities will visit Poole, Christchurch and other Dorset stations during the Grand Fire Ride, which covers more than 760km over five days.

Plans for music and alcohol sales at Tuckton Tea Gardens will be considered by BCP Council after 120 public representations, including 94 objections.

Peter Kegg’s family have paid tribute to Peter, 84, who died in hospital after a collision involving a car in Belle Vue Road, Bournemouth, and described him as generous and caring.

A licensing committee has allowed DrgnFly in Poole to run later, with limits and noise controls after residents raised concerns about the Ashley Cross application.

Circus Starr is bringing an accessible under the sea show to Bournemouth, with relaxed performances for children with disabilities and additional learning needs, supported by local businesses.

A temporary event notice for a boxing event at Harry’s Lounge and Bar Coast in Bournemouth has been approved after police raised concerns about local antisocial behaviour.

Littledown, Pelhams and Stokewood have each received Very Good Quest ratings after independent assessors reviewed customer experience, accessibility, cleanliness, management and community impact in detail across the Bournemouth leisure centres.

People across Dorset are being urged to consider support to stop smoking as a regional campaign and charter back healthier communities and lower smoking rates.

Government, Environment Agency and local harbour groups have agreed next steps after testing found a sharp E. coli rise in the River Stour at Christchurch Harbour.

Eliza Carthy is set to perform at Lighthouse in Poole with The Restitution, following the release of Frenemies, the latest album she made with the band and Ben Seal.

A two night event at Shelley Park in Boscombe will feature live singers, laser shows, fire and circus performers, fairground attractions and food and drink.

A new Wingstop has opened in Bournemouth Square, with 88 seats, takeaway and delivery, and a launch offer for the first 100 customers at its town centre site.

A motorcyclist has been taken to hospital following a collision with a van on the A31 this evening.

Rural crime patrols, security checks and work across borders took place across Dorset as police and partners focused on offences affecting farms, yards and rural businesses.

The Poole Poppy Appeal will launch at the Dolphin Centre on 24 October, with collectors also due at Asda Poole, Waitrose Parkstone and The Spire during the collection period.

A new BCP Council post will work with schools and services to support young people at risk of knife crime, serious violence and exploitation across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

A new store using the name Five Fold could appear at Castlepoint in the near future selling White Stuff, Hobbs London, Whistles and Phase Eight brands.

A cast of 100 young local dancers will perform The Nutcracker at Lighthouse Poole, alongside international principal dancers from English Youth Ballet this November after being selected for the production.

ArtsEd graduate Dante Nardone will take the title role in Aladdin at Bournemouth Pavilion, with local audiences also set to see James Cartwright, Noel Brodie, Jamie Steen and Kristel Herrera.

A new Bournemouth Pavilion line up will bring Jonathan Pie, Austentatious, Ginger Johnson, Tom Stade, Susan Calman and Aladdin to local audiences next autumn.

Redhill Park firefighters in Bournemouth have been recognised for school sessions that support teenagers with work skills, confidence and positive choices for the future.

A grant from Haskins Garden Centre in Ferndown has funded new furniture and equipment for counselling rooms and patient spaces at the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch after a staff nomination.

BCP opposition councillors want clearer answers on possible council tax and service charge rises after reports of a £27 million forecast overspend affecting local budgets in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

A five day pop up at six Old Christchurch Road will offer yoga, art exhibitions and coffee mornings, with local partners supporting activities for all ages.

Police are asking witnesses and motorists with dashcam footage to help their investigation after a woman was seriously injured in a car park collision in Christchurch on Monday morning.

A Bournemouth woman was fined after fire safety inspectors were refused access to a Roslin Road premises linked to holiday let use and alleged safety concerns.

Work has started at Noyce Gardens, where ideas from local children and families are shaping new play equipment, seating, sensory space and community artwork for the upgraded area.

A local election will be arranged in Poole’s Penn Hill ward after Liberal Democrat councillor Jo Clements resigned from BCP Council because of personal circumstances.

Adam Edward Eric Curtis, from Poole, has been jailed after a victim helped police prove controlling behaviour, sexual assault and physical violence over 11 years.

Families across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being encouraged to check children’s MMRV vaccination records, with local uptake still below the national target for both doses.
A Dorset RNLI volunteer has completed a 15,000ft skydive after more than 17 years of fundraising and water safety work for the charity.

Parking income is below forecast in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as the council points to changing travel habits and pressure on household budgets, while wider budget pressures continue.

Dorset Police are asking for information to help find Antonio Cruz, who is wanted on prison recall and has links to Dorchester and Weymouth.

A Private Member's Bill introduced by Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Vikki Slade would require hairdressers and barbers in England to register after a campaign with local barber Mike Taylor.

Former pupils across Dorset are being urged to support students raising money to tackle homelessness.

Detectives investigating an assault in Bournemouth town centre have released CCTV as they try to identify a man following a serious head injury to a teenager.

The Dorset Mind BIG Walk will bring two coastal routes to Sandbanks later this month.

A new sensory play area at Royal Bournemouth Hospital has been opened by nursery children ahead of the Children’s Health department’s move from Poole next spring.

Work is due to begin at Hatchards Field near Rossmore Road, with new space themed play equipment and quieter seating areas planned for local families.

School aged children in Mid Dorset and North Poole can submit original artwork for Vikki Slade’s 2026 Christmas card competition, with entries due by Friday two October.

A long term transport plan sets out proposed rail changes for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, including a Dorset Metro, station access upgrades and changes in Poole.

The Romance Writing Festival will bring authors, agents and media guests to Bournemouth’s East Cliff, with workshops, interviews and networking for Dorset writers when it returns next month.

Poole Road in Westbourne will be resurfaced over eight weekdays from Monday, with weekend reopening, diversions and resident access arrangements planned near Seamoor Road and Queens Road.

Routes for a possible tram or ultra light rail network are being explored across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as part of BCP Council’s long term transport plans.

A summer beach safety scheme helped reunite 59 people with loved ones and issued more than 15,000 wristbands across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole beaches.

Police are seeking information after a three vehicle collision on the A31 near Wimborne, where a van caught fire and two people suffered minor injuries on Wednesday afternoon.

Bournemouth’s international film festival is back, bringing cinema, talks, workshops and creative networking to the town.