Erin Rhodes

Marks & Spencer is opening a 20,000-square-foot Foodhall at Redlands Retail Park in Poole on August 12. The store will offer fresh produce, an in-store bakery, barista-made coffees, sushi, a hot chicken counter, a larger flower market, self-service facilities and Click & Collect. More than 90 staff have been recruited, and the opening will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, an inflatable Percy Pig and free tote bags for early shoppers.

Two men were taken to hospital after a fight at the Co-op store on Castle Lane West in Bournemouth. Dorset Police are investigating, and the store briefly closed while officers examined the incident before reopening. A 39-year-old Bournemouth man was arrested on suspicion of assault, affray, public-order offences and assaulting a police constable, then released on police bail while inquiries continue.

A man was reportedly chased and attacked with a metal pole near Bennett Road and Stewart Road in Charminster, Bournemouth. A 49-year-old Bournemouth man was arrested on suspicion of assault, affray, possessing an offensive weapon in public and criminal damage, then released on conditional bail. The victim was taken to hospital, while witnesses described damage to a recovery truck, shouting and the incident spreading into nearby gardens. A resident criticized the police response time, and Dorset Police said officers attend incidents as soon as resources allow.

Marks & Spencer is due to open a large standalone foodhall at Redlands in Poole on August 12. The store will offer the full M&S Food range, an in-store bakery, barista-made takeaway drinks, hot chicken and Mai Sushi counters, as well as larger-pack and value-focused ranges. The opening is expected to create more than 90 local jobs.

Kerry and Jonathan Tyers say they were injured in a confrontation with Vespasian Security staff after leaving Poole Harbour Festival, claiming that guards restrained and assaulted them. They report bruising, a shoulder injury and suspected ligament damage, which they say has prevented them from working in their mobile tyre-fitting business. Dorset Police are investigating reports that both a man and a woman were assaulted in the Baiter Park area, but no arrests have been made. Vespasian Security said it had received no formal complaint and invited the couple to contact the company, while festival organisers said they were unaware of the police investigation and could not comment.

Dorset Hedgehog Rescue is caring for 198 hedgehogs, more than it admitted throughout the previous year, as hot and dry conditions harden the ground, reduce water and food supplies, and contribute to hedgehog mothers abandoning hoglets. Co-founder Jim Dunne said the surge is straining staffing, veterinary, food, bedding and cleaning resources. The charity is seeking more weekend volunteers and donations of cat food, while urging residents to provide shallow bowls of fresh water and leave small fence gaps so hedgehogs can move between gardens. Animals receive fluids, warmth, parasite treatment and feeding before being returned to the wild.

The 89.6-metre superyacht Milky Way, valued at approximately $300 million, attracted attention after mooring at Poole Quay. Built by Dutch shipyard Feadship and launched in June 2026, the vessel was designed for a private owner and features a 16.7-metre swimming pool, expansive teak decks and extensive glazing. Feadship's sales director Marteen Jansen said the yacht resulted from close collaboration between the client and project team.

Road restrictions linked to SGN gas-main replacement works have reduced trade at Oakley Butchers in Merley and Broadstone by an estimated 20%, according to owner Ian Butler. He says confusing diversions, limited consultation and three consecutive summers of disruption have deterred customers. BCP Council is introducing a Local Lane Rental Scheme covering more than 100 roads, with charges of up to £2,500 for work during busy periods, to encourage utility companies to complete projects more quickly and reduce disruption.

Wingstop is preparing to open a restaurant in Unit 2 of Bobby’s Bournemouth in Commercial Road at the end of August. The first 100 customers on Friday, August 28 will receive free wings. The site, formerly occupied by Franco Manca, is being refitted, while Wingstop’s UK operator has sought a licence to sell alcohol until midnight and late-night refreshments until 4am from Thursday to Saturday. The opening will expand the chain’s UK presence, which now exceeds 60 restaurants, and create jobs including general manager, shift manager and other restaurant roles.

The ultra-luxury cruise yacht Scenic Eclipse II docked in Poole Harbour on July 27 during a six-night “Taste of the British Isles” voyage from Fowey to London. Operated by Australian company Scenic Group, the 228-guest vessel features 114 suites, up to nine restaurants, a spa, theatre, pools, helicopters and a submersible. After stops in Fowey, Guernsey and Poole, the cruise continues to Belgium before ending in London, with fares starting at £6,989 per person.

Dorset Police are urgently searching for 14-year-old Kymberley, who was last seen near Kings Park Road in Bournemouth at about 1pm on Thursday, July 23. She is described as slim, 5ft 2in tall, with shoulder-length dark brown hair, and was reportedly wearing black clothing and carrying a black rucksack. Police asked anyone with information to contact them, quoting occurrence number 55260112659.

Police are investigating multiple thefts in Poole, including a green‑stone necklace taken from a parked vehicle, a high‑value Trek Powerfly 6+ e‑bike stolen from Baiter Skate Park, and two rolls of lead taken from a care home car park. Officers are appealing for witnesses and information regarding the suspects involved in each incident.

A Christchurch café, The Ducking Stool, will close its historic premises after a slow summer and relocate to Boscombe. Owner Emma Corbett cites roadworks, a hidden location and rising costs as reasons for the move. The business will reopen as The Duckyard in the Royal Arcade, offering its signature drinks, grab‑and‑go food and community events. Corbett welcomes the lower running costs and busier location but is saddened to leave the longstanding heritage building.

Forensics and emergency services responded to a fire at a semi-detached bungalow on Fernheath Road in Bournemouth after neighbours reported hearing multiple explosions. The blaze, which began on the ground floor and spread to the roof, caused significant damage. Police consider the cause suspicious and have launched an investigation while maintaining a cordon. Fire crews from three stations extinguished the fire, and an ambulance attended, though no casualties were reported.

A Poole fisherman rescued a cold‑stunned loggerhead turtle found 27 miles off the Dorset coast, briefly bringing it aboard before returning it to the sea after it revived. Dorset Wildlife Trust confirmed the species and suggested it may have drifted in on the North Atlantic Drift. The sighting follows other recent turtle appearances in the Channel Islands and Dorset.

A new restaurant, Buco Pizzeria, has opened in Christchurch, bringing Neapolitan-style wood‑fired pizza made with imported Italian ingredients. Owner Matteo Arena fulfilled his long-held ambition to open his own pizzeria after previously running Hungry Oven and spending months researching pizza styles across Europe and the United States. The venue, designed by Arena and his team with rustic Italian décor and local artwork, has seen strong community support since its July 4 opening and is fully booked through mid‑August.

BCP Council cleared large amounts of fly-tipped waste, including rotting meat and furniture, from an abandoned encampment at the Queens Road coach park in Bournemouth after complaints of anti-social behaviour. Council cleansing teams and CSAS officers conducted cleanup and added the site to regular patrols. Dorset Police had previously issued dispersal orders in response to reports of disorder, and residents said the camp had been occupied for several weeks before being vacated.

Dorset Police responded to a stabbing on Lagland Street in Poole, where a man in his forties sustained a non-life‑threatening leg injury. Five individuals from Poole and Bournemouth were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent. Witnesses reported blood in the building’s entrance, and residents expressed increasing concern over repeated stabbings in the area. Police inquiries continued at Drake Court, a tower block undergoing refurbishment under the council’s Project Admiral programme.

A woman from Ferndown alleges that a rushed gum‑grafting procedure at Dental on the Banks left her with an infected wound and a one‑inch hole in the roof of her mouth. She says she paid £1,200 for treatment meant to address gum recession following a stem cell transplant but was left with worsened symptoms and fears losing a front tooth. After requesting a refund to seek care elsewhere, she was initially offered full reimbursement before the practice reduced the amount to £600. The clinic declined to comment citing patient confidentiality.

Princess Anne arrived in Poole by helicopter for a visit to the Royal Motor Yacht Club, drawing interest from aviation enthusiasts and royal supporters. Plane spotter Finley Neville Jones captured the arrival and described the experience as memorable, noting his longstanding admiration for the royal family. The visit, recorded in the official Royal Diary, marked her continued support for maritime organisations and followed a previous engagement in Sandbanks last year.

A cyclist was taken to hospital after a collision with a car on Dorchester Road in Poole, prompting a temporary road closure while police and ambulance crews attended. The injuries were reported as not serious, and the road reopened shortly after 4 p.m., though heavy traffic continued in the area according to AA reports.

A large heath fire in Bourne Valley Park prompted more than 40 emergency calls and a multi-crew response as flames spread quickly in windy conditions. Residents feared the fire would reach their homes, reporting intense heat and smoke. Some expressed frustration about vegetation management and repeated fires in the area. Emergency services including fire crews, ambulance staff, local council teams and SGN attended, while police received reports but did not deploy officers. The fire’s cause remains unknown.