Meridian Weymouth News

After five weeks of finger-threatening cutting, a man from Dorset has created what he hopes will be the world's largest hand-cut jigsaw. It contains forty thousand pieces and shows images of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

• UK
• Dorset
• Weymouth

The recent wet weather has taken its toll on a stretch of coastline in Dorset. A large crack has appeared on cliffs near Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth. Walkers are being warned to stay away from the area in case of rock falls and mudflows. Bob Cruwys has our report.

• UK
• Weymouth
• Bowleze Cove

A large part of the Dorset coastline has collapsed.

The slip at Bowleze Cove near Weymouth is around 150 feet across. Walkers on the coast path are being warned to stay away from the cliff's edge.

• UK
• Weymouth
• Bowleze Cove

Coastguards are telling the public to heed warning signs after a large landslide near Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth. It's estimated to be around 150ft long and 6ft wide.

Heavy rainfall over the last few months has left parts of the Jurassic Coast at risk of landslips.

• UK
• Weymouth
• Bowleaze Cove

• UK
• Weymouth
• Nick Dempsey

There's alternatives that people can make including community accessible transport provided by various local authorities.

I want to work with Dorset County Council to see if there's some way that we can jointly fund some of these changes to make them more viable.

• UK
• Weymouth
• First Bus

More than one 150 angry bus users in Weymouth packed a meeting last night to argue about proposed changes to bus routes in South Dorset.

First Bus plans to stop routes 5, 5A and 4B from March 24. But local residents said the move would leave many elderly and infirm people isolated in their own homes. The bus operator blames tough economic times on the decision.

It also says that the money the company receives from the concessionary fare scheme is less than forty per cent of the actual journey price. Fuel rebate has also been reduced so it's been left with no option unless Dorset County Council steps in to subsidise these routes.

The meeting was called by South Dorset MP Richard Drax who had been contacted by many of his constituents unhappy with the decision to axe routes.

• UK
• Weymouth
• First Bus

Weymouth Pavilion is to close at the end of May along with the town's tourist information centre, putting around 20 jobs at risk.

The borough council voted unanimously to shut the theatre at a meeting last night as part of cost-saving measures.

The authority is inviting community groups to take over the building in an effort to secure its future.

• UK
• Tourism
• Weymouth

Dispersal powers are to be used by police in Dorset in an attempt to crack down on anti-social behaviour. Officers will be targeting the Littlemoor area of Weymouth and moving on anyone they feel is causing problems.

• UK
• Dorset Police
• Weymouth

Three blacknose sharks that were born in captivity - have seen fish for the first time! They were introduced to a reef display tank at Weymouth Sea Life Park on Monday. They were born in the United States, where they were kept in a quarantine tank.

The species is considered 'near-threatened' in the wild. The park hopes that the sharks' appearance will help raise awareness of the threats faced by all shark species and increase support for conservation.

Talking about her three new charges, Curator Fiona Smith said: "They were born in captivity in the US and from birth were kept in a quarantine tank with just each other for company. They have that classic sleek silvery profile most people expect sharks to have, but are no threat to humans.

"We're really excited to be giving these three their public debut here in Weymouth and they look fantastic... They have spent the last few months in another quarantine tank at Weymouth, so were probably convinced it was just them and a few kindly humans in the whole world."

• And Finally
• Blacknose sharks
• Weymouth Sea Life Park