Dorset weekly round-up: 30 March - 5 April 2024

7 April

Close up of the teeth in the skull — Image caption,
The 2m-long (6ft) skull of a pliosaur was excavated from high above a beach in Dorset

A story about the skull of a prehistoric sea monster found on the Jurassic Coast making it into the world record books, was among our most read stories this week in Dorset.

A variety of local issues featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Solent and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

Butcher 'reluctantly' shuts up shop at age of 85

Pat Jenkins began working at her father's butcher's shop in Bournemouth in 1958

An 85-year-old woman believed to be one of Britain's longest serving butchers is retiring after more than 60 years.

Pat Jenkins began working at her father's butcher's shop in Bournemouth in 1958, aged 19.

The lease of Mason's Butchers in Pokesdown has ended, with the business facing a choice between closing or signing on for 10 more years.

Ms Jenkins, who worked with her son Andrew Jenkins, 60, said they were reluctantly shutting up shop.

Seal enjoys beach break thanks to police

Dorset Police

Pictures on social media show the seal taking a break on the beach

Police cordoned off a section of a beach to allow a seal to get uninterrupted rest.

Wareham police were called to Durdle Door, Dorset, to block off a section of the beach to "keep a safe distance between the public and the seal".

They said the cordon also allowed the animal enough space to "feel comfortable".

Couple's wedding saved after new venue steps in

Anne Chilcott and Les Way feared they would have to cancel their wedding

A couple say a new venue has stepped in to save their wedding after the hotel they had booked closed without warning.

Bride-to-be Anne Chilcott, from Poole, Dorset, was distraught after learning Poole Quay Hotel shut suddenly, just three months before her wedding day.

After hearing about her plight on BBC South, the Lord Bute hotel in Highcliffe offered to help and now the wedding is back on.

Ms Chilcott said: "It's a lovely venue and we are really excited."

Scanner gift for 'important' community hospital

Patient Roger Nicholson and the new Echo machine

Patient Roger Nicholson said having the Echo machine close to home was "ideal"

A hospital charity has said its donation of a £95,000 scanner reflects the importance of community hospitals.

The 22-bed Victoria Hospital in Wimborne, Dorset, received the new cardiac ultrasound machine in December.

The hospital's League of Friends paid for the so-called Echo equipment, which offers faster and more accurate diagnoses of heart conditions.

Chairman Anne Salter said the charity was "clear" about the hospital's future.

Pliosaur sea monster enters world record books

BBC/Tony Jolliffe

The 2m-long pliosaur skull has been confirmed as the most complete ever found

The skull of a prehistoric sea monster found on the Jurassic Coast has made it into the world record books.

The 2m-long (6ft) skull of a pliosaur, excavated from high above a beach in Dorset, was the subject of a BBC film presented by Sir David Attenborough.

Guinness World Records confirmed it was the "most complete" of its type on the planet.

It said it was about "95% complete by surface area", with "previously unobservable details" of the genus.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, external, X, external, or Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240, external.