Dorset: Remember these? Some of our unusual most-read stories of the year

Jack Lodge said he has been visiting the arches to try and capture this moment every winter for the past four years

Durdle Door's sunstar, Prince William being kissed by Gazza, a giant Hokey Cokey and the return of the Hovis boy on the bike.

As 2023 draws to a close, we look back at some of the unusual and light-hearted stories that made the news in Dorset.

Here are some of the highlights:

El Galeón is a full-size replica of a 17th century Spanish ship

A 17th Century El Galeón replica ship arrives

A spectacular full-size replica of a 17th Century Spanish ship arrived in Weymouth for a weekend in May.

El Galeón is a copy of the types of Spanish galleons used between the 16th and 18th Centuries.

The arrival attracted crowds to the harbour to for walking tours accompanied by sailors who live on board.

The engine was designed to haul express trains from London Waterloo to the south coast

Swanage Railway steam locomotive returns after 75 years

A Victorian steam locomotive that has escaped being scrapped twice was back in action and pulling trains for the first time in 75 years.

The 1893 London and South Western Railway T3 class No. 563 was donated to Swanage Railway in Dorset in 2017.

It took its first passengers on the heritage line following a six-year restoration effort in October.

Hundreds dance Hokey Cokey on closed street

Hundreds of people took part in a giant Hokey Cokey in Dorchester's High Street.

The street, was closed for the occasion, as part of the town's annual Heritage Open Day celebrations.

The event first featured the dance, organised by Tom Browns pub, in 2018.

Mr Lodge said it was an "epic morning....You don't get many like this, well, in fact, I've been trying for years"

Dorset photographer captures Durdle Door 'sunstar'

A photographer managed to capture the "epic" moment the sun passed through the Durdle Door arches.

Jack Lodge had tried to photograph this position of the sunrise, called a sunstar, for the past four years.

He said the moment is "iconic" for photographers, because it is only possible to capture over a few weeks in the winter.

Mr Lodge explained it took him "endless attempts".

Carl Barlow returned to the iconic location aged 64

Hovis 'boy on the bike' returns to Dorset hill after 50 years

The original Hovis "boy on the bike" has returned to the scene of the iconic advert 50 years after it first aired.

Carl Barlow was 13 when he starred in the commercial, pushing a bike with a basket of bread up Gold Hill in Dorset.

The advert was once voted the most iconic of all time, and the cobbled Shaftesbury street went on to become a popular tourist destination.

Now 64, Mr Barlow said the advert was a "huge part" of his life and he was "delighted" to recreate it.

Paul Gascoigne turned up to greet Prince William in Bournemouth

Prince William kissed by Gazza in Bournemouth Pret a Manger

Paul Gascoigne kissed the Prince of Wales on the cheek during a friendly encounter in a sandwich shop.

The ex-footballer turned up in a crowd that greeted the prince at a branch of Pret A Manger in Bournemouth.

Gascoigne, who has struggled with alcoholism, told Prince William he was "a lot better, getting there", before leaning in to give him a brief kiss.

The prince was visiting the shop's town centre branch to hear about the company's work with homeless people.

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