The cells where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were held during their trial will be open to the public when the Old Crown Court in Dorchester opens for the summer season later this month.

The courtroom, which is best known for the 1834 trial of the Martyrs, has staged many dramatic cases over the years, including the case of Martha Browne, the last woman to be hanged in Dorset after murdering her husband with an axe.

Goulds department store renowned for its customer service is striking out into the cut-throat world of online shopping. Customers are now just as likely to be clicking a mouse as ringing a bell when shopping at their Dorchester store. The independent store - now in its 105th year - has launched an e-commerce website to keep pace with chain store rivals.

PLANS to pedestrianise a town centre street are set to win the backing of councillors.
The proposal to make the full length of Dorchester's South Street traffic-free is part of the Dorchester Traffic and Environment Plan being formulated to reduce congestion in the town. The push to make lower South Street and adjoining New Street pedestrianised in common with the rest of the main shopping street is being spearheaded by Dorchester Chamber of Commerce.

Dorchester town councillors want to make summer floral displays more environmentally-friendly by using a new type of hanging basket.The council is looking at ways of putting plenty of hanging baskets on display in the town without having to send staff out to water them everyday. Watering can use up to 500 litres of water a day and workers are paid overtime to do it.

Peter Mullins, the council's compliance manager, is asking committee members to consider options such as stopping all floral displays in the town centre.

He also suggests replacing hanging baskets with ground-mounted containers with reservoirs and using drought-resistant plants. Whichever option is picked, he said the town's flower beds and recently-planted trees would still need watering.

Dorchester Town Football Club's majority shareholder Eddie Mitchell is looking to add further amenities to the stadium - provided the go-ahead is given to build a gym and restaurant at the Weymouth Avenue site.A full planning application was lodged with West Dorset District Council in the middle of last month.

Mr Mitchell, a Poole-based property developer, said: "I think we will get the planning permission quite shortly and if we do it will be great news."We want to make it the complex for the town and may try to add other amenities. There is such scope for that site and if we can get the right people to invest, it could be good.

"It is a lovely spot to get some sort of hotel. It is the right location and we are looking at it very intensely planning-wise to see what else could help finance the football club. But it needs the input from the town."

"We want to make it the complex for the town and may try to add other amenities. There is such scope for that site and if we can get the right people to invest, it could be good.

"It is a lovely spot to get some sort of hotel. It is the right location and we are looking at it very intensely planning-wise to see what else could help finance the football club. But it needs the input from the town."

PEOPLE in Dorset live longer than the national average, according to information released by the Department of Health.

The Health Profile of England 2007 shows men living here can expect to live almost three years longer than average - to 79 years - while women live two years longer than average to 83.

Alistair Chisholm has done it again.

Not content with being the best British town crier for the third time, the Dorchester tour guide has now scooped his fifth win in the national championships.

Mr Chisholm travelled to Hastings on Saturday (13.10.07), where he competed against 20 other criers from across the country, including his arch rival Doris Eastwood of Langton Herring.

By Rob Hodder

This weekend's home league clash against Bromley sees the club's "Bring a Friend" challenge to Dorchester fans to try and boost our home attendance to over 1,000 spectators.

To give the public in Dorset - and Bromley - an even bigger incentive to attend, Dorchester Town owner Eddie Mitchell has offered to refund all entrance fees on the day should the target crowd figure of 1,000 be achieved.Everyone who buys a ticket on the day will receive a FULL REFUND of the ticket value should the gate reaches 1,000 or more.

This offer does not include Patrons, Vice Presidents or Season Ticket Holders but would apply to their paying guests.Anyone who buys a ticket must retain it as proof of purchase.At some point during the second half of the game, the attendance figure will be announced and if the magic number of 1,000 is achieved, the ticket holders can go to the main office at the end of the game to receive a full refund in cash.

In addition to this, everyone who buys their ticket on the day will also be entered into a free prize draw which will be made at half time. The winner will win two tickets to a Portsmouth home Premier League match and £100 cash or an Avenue Stadium Season Ticket.

For further information, please contact Business and Events Manager Neill Blake in the club office on (01305) 26245.