Alfie Lumb

A grass fire at Freshwater Caravan Park in Burton Bradstock was believed to have been started when sunlight reflected through a discarded glass bottle. Campsite staff controlled the blaze before Bridport firefighters arrived, and crews dampened the area and checked for hotspots. Fire officials urged visitors to dispose of rubbish responsibly, warning that discarded glass can ignite dry grass and cause fires to spread.

Large crowds gathered at Dorset beaches, hilltops, monuments and beauty spots to watch a partial solar eclipse, during which more than 94% of the Sun was obscured in the county. Portland Heights, Maiden Castle, Poundbury Hillfort, Hardy Monument, Nothe Fort and several beaches attracted spectators, causing traffic congestion at some landmarks. The eclipse began at 6:17pm, peaked at 7:16pm and ended by 8:08pm, followed later by clear views of the Perseid meteor shower in rural areas.

Large queues formed outside Howleys Toymaster stores in Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport as shoppers sought certified eclipse glasses ahead of a partial solar eclipse expected to cover up to 90% of the sun. Weymouth was forecast to experience 93.4% coverage, with the eclipse scheduled from 6:17pm to 8:08pm. Store manager John Bentley said the Weymouth branch had ordered about 10,000 additional glasses after selling out rapidly, while residents were warned never to look directly at the sun without proper protection. Several Dorset locations, including Nothe Fort, were suggested as viewing sites.

Howleys Toymaster shops in Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport sold out of solar eclipse glasses within minutes amid high demand. After ordering 2,000 pairs across three branches, the retailer dispatched staff to the Midlands to collect 10,000 more before the eclipse, although any remaining stock would become difficult to sell afterward. The partial eclipse was expected to cover up to 90% of the Sun, and the public was warned to use certified glasses or proper solar filters. Weymouth was identified as one of the UK’s best viewing locations, with the grounds of Nothe Fort open to visitors for free.

Dorchester’s One World Festival returned to Borough Gardens with music, dance, food and activities celebrating cultures from across Dorset and around the world. Organized by the South West Dorset Multicultural Network and Dorchester Town Council, the event featured performances including Indian sitar and dance, Swiss carnival music, Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cultural presentations, Chinese lion dancing, and African and Caribbean fusion music. Visitors also enjoyed international cuisine, henna painting, craft workshops and other family activities. A flash mob involving dancers aged five to 50 emphasized the festival’s themes of inclusion, multiculturalism and community participation.

A man sustained a head injury during a reported altercation involving three men and two women on the Rodwell Trail in Weymouth. The victim left on foot and was last seen at Weymouth Railway Station. Dorset Police are seeking to speak with him and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information, citing occurrence number 55260120722.

Dorset is expected to have one of the UK's best views of the partial solar eclipse on August 12, with about 93% of the sun covered and maximum eclipse visibility around 7:16pm. Weymouth ranks highly among UK towns, while suggested viewing locations include Golden Cap, Maiden Castle, Hardy Monument and Chesil Beach. Viewers are warned never to look directly at the sun without certified eclipse glasses or suitable solar filters, and the Royal Observatory Greenwich will livestream the event.

Weymouth Octoberfest will return to the Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Room on October 16 and 17, celebrating the festival’s 20th anniversary and West Dorset CAMRA’s 50th anniversary. The event will focus on beers from Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, with more than 50 cask ales and 12 traditionally produced ciders and perries. Copper Street Brewery will make a return as it prepares to move into new premises in Dorchester. Daytime and evening sessions are planned, with tickets offering varying amounts of drink tokens and additional incentives for CAMRA members, students and Blue Light Card holders.

Weymouth Beach hosted the first of five Monday evening summer fireworks displays, with shows scheduled at 9:30 p.m. through August 31. Lower-noise displays are planned for August 10 and August 24. Local community groups supported the opening event, while works at Weymouth Peninsula have reduced parking capacity and prompted closures around the Pavilion to help ease congestion.

Crowds gathered on Weymouth Beach for the Coastal Combat Festival, featuring more than 50 combat-sports bouts, including MMA, muay Thai, boxing and submission grappling. The event also included live music, DJs, street food, bars, a children’s programme, a bodybuilding competition and a Royal Marines demonstration. Organisers presented the festival as a combat-sports-focused alternative to major beach festivals and as the latest development of Weymouth’s Subs on the Sand events.

Four people were injured when a black Mazda CX-5 and a silver Kia Sportage collided on Old Sherborne Road near Alton Lane, Cerne Abbas. Two Mazda occupants suffered serious injuries, while the Kia driver sustained potentially life-threatening injuries; the Kia passenger was treated at the scene. Dorset Police closed the road and are seeking witnesses and dashcam footage.

Hundreds of people attended the Dorset Food and Arts Festival at the Great Field in Poundbury, where more than 80 makers, food producers, brewers, artists and growers offered local goods, handmade crafts and live entertainment. Visitors praised the event’s atmosphere, range of food and drink, and expanding scale. The annual festival, founded in 2012, is coordinated by Dorset Food & Drink and supports local producers and community groups.

Firefighters from Wareham Fire Station are responding to an incident off Bere Road near Wareham Forest in Dorset. Smoke and steam have been reported in the area, with crews attending from around 7 a.m. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the response and said further details were being sought.

Chickerell Town Council’s reception office will close to the public for two weeks during the final stage of Willowbed Hall’s refurbishment, reopening on August 17. The hall will also be unavailable during construction hours from August 3 to 7. Council staff will remain accessible by phone and email, while the project includes a single-storey extension, new verandas, ramped access, landscaping improvements and relocation of the access road.

Dorchester Town Council has launched a six-week consultation on introducing a town-wide 20mph speed limit covering the town’s main and residential roads. The proposal is intended to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers and encourage walking and cycling, following concerns raised by residents about vehicle speeds. Middle Farm Way in Poundbury and a 40mph section of Weymouth Avenue would be excluded. The council is seeking views from residents, businesses and other stakeholders, while noting that approval would require numerous additional repeater signs throughout the town.

Photographers across Dorset captured images of the July Buck Moon, the traditional name for July’s full moon, which refers to the period when male deer grow new antlers. Fred Worth photographed the moon over Dorset and Jim Maclannan captured it near the Needles. The next full moon, the Sturgeon Moon, is due on August 28.

A man died after falling from a residential building in The Grove area of Dorchester. Emergency services responded around 8.45pm, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Roads near Top O Town Roundabout were closed while police examined the area. Authorities state the death is not being treated as suspicious and expressed condolences to the man's family.