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BBC News
07-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
New 'bee paradise' near Blandford planned to boost conservation
A new sanctuary, described as a "bee paradise" is set to open this autumn, a council has Council said the centre on Holloway Farm near Blandford Forum will feature expansive fields filled with trees, nectar-rich shrubs, sustainably crafted hives, and a workspace dedicated to studying bee health and North Dorset Beekeepers Association will run the project which it hopes will serve as both a learning and community Baird from the charity, which raised more than £200,000 for the project, said he was grateful to "everyone who has helped make our vision a reality". The site has been made possible thanks to donations and funding from the Government and the local Baird said: "Our current site is difficult to access, and our workshops are held in a church hall, far from the hives."The new location at Holloway Farm, leased to us by Dorset Council for a peppercorn rent, provides ample space for both the new building and thriving bee colonies in the grounds, and will be accessible to all." 'Step closer' The eco-friendly centre will include an education space for schools and other visiting groups and a honey bottling room."Honey bees are crucial for food production and play a significant role in pollinating crops and supporting the wider environment," said Councillor Ryan added: "Without them, our food chain would be severely affected. It's great to see such an important conservation project a step closer to completion." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Cuckolded husband who punched his cheating wife's rugby-playing lover when he caught them in bed together is cleared of threatening to burn down the marital home
A cuckolded husband who allegedly threatened to burn down his marital home after he caught his wife in bed with her rugby-playing lover has walked free from court. David Lukey was said to have telephoned his brother-in-law the day after he was 'destroyed' when he walked in on estranged wife Andrea and lover Chris Andrews. The 47-year-old was alleged to have told Ian Donegan that if 'Chris steps foot in my house again I will kill him and burn the house down and take the kids.' Mr Lukey, an aerospace engineer, and his wife had previously agreed to a trial separation after having marriage difficulties, the court heard. But jurors heard he discovered his 37-year-old wife and her lover in a state of undress when he turned up at the former marital home to do his laundry. In March last year he admitted a charge of assaulting Mr Andrews by punching him in the face during the confrontation at the house in Blandford Forum, Dorset, and was dealt with by way of a community order. But he denied threatening to destroy or damage property during the phone call with Mr Donegan on September 21, 2023. Mr Lukey, now of Ferndown, Dorset, was found not guilty on Friday following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. Afterwards Mr Lukey said he was relieved he could finally move on with his life after nearly two years of the threat of prison hanging over his head. He also accused the CPS of wasting taxpayers' money by pursuing the case against him and 'dragging it all up' again. The trial heard Mr Lukey had been living in a tent for six weeks so Andrea and their two children could remain in the family home and he continued to pay the mortgage and bills. The defendant told jurors that 2023 was 'not a vintage year' for him, adding: 'The year began with discovering my wife was having an affair, by the end of the year I had lost my partner of 14 years, my house, my pets, and most heartbreakingly no longer lived with my children.' Mr Lukey described how he then found his wife with her lover at the marital home. 'I returned to the house, believing it would be empty. I caught them in my house, in our marital bed, which destroyed me. 'I gave Chris the chance to leave, but Andrea stopped him and goaded me saying 'this isn't your house, this is my house, you have no right to be here'. This was a house I was still paying the mortgage and bills for. "I tried to take my frustration out on objects not people, she continued to goad me. I said 'if you don't get out I'm going to punch Chris in the face', so I did, I punched him. "That night I was released from cells and was told Ian was my point of contact to see my children." Mr Donegan alleged that in a phone call the next day Mr Lukey made the chilling threat. Mr Donegan said: "He referred to Chris, who at the time I had never met. He was someone my sister was seeing, which I didn't know at the time. "He said 'if Chris steps foot in my house again I will kill him and burn the house down. I will burn the house down and take the kids'. "He also said 'they need to know I'm serious about this'. "I said to David not to do anything stupid, tried to calm down the situation." Mr Lukey denied this and told the court he actually said if Chris went in his house again he would stop paying the mortgage immediately and put the house on the market. Mr Lukey said: "When [the police] told me what the threats were, I was in total shock. This was a house I had put myself through hell to keep a roof over my kids' heads. "I did not make that threat. The phone conversation mainly revolved around the kids. "I did say I'm going to stop paying the mortgage if he goes in my house again and put the house on the market. "I accept if I have done something, I accept responsibility for my actions. That night was the worst night of my life, I couldn't stop picturing what I had seen, by the next day I had a complete mental breakdown. "I think if you put anyone who has been struggling so hard, living in a tent, and dropped them into that house they are paying for to find their wife in bed with another man, I don't think it's unreasonable to say someone might punch that man. "It was wrong and I have paid the price for it, but I've served my sentence. "I continued paying the mortgage for months while Chris moved into the house." In the earlier prosecution, Poole magistrates heard the Lukeys had been married for a decade after Mrs Lukey left her native Czech Republic to marry the engineer, but the relationship had 'struggled' in recent years. By the time of the confrontation at the former marital home, Mrs Lukey considered herself single, and although her estranged husband had moved out, they had an agreement that he could return to the house to see his children and do his washing. Mrs Lukey told police in a statement ahead of that case that the husband she had 'left my whole life in Prague for 'smashed the television screens, smashed photos on the bedside table and the door under the stairs' after discovering her with her lover.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
Boy, 3, hit by car towing caravan in Blandford Forum leaves hospital
A three-year-old boy airlifted to hospital after he was hit by a car towing a caravan has been was seriously hurt by a white Seat Leon off Milldown Road near The Blandford School and Blandford Leisure Centre in Blandford Forum, Dorset, on 8 Police said the boy was making "good progress" and was well enough to leave hospital.A 19-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, was released under investigation as police continue their inquiries. "We are very pleased to update that thankfully the little boy involved in this collision is making good progress in his recovery and has been deemed strong enough to be discharged from hospital," Sgt Mike Burt, of Dorset Police, said."We continue to carry out inquiries to establish the full circumstances around this incident and I would again urge any witnesses, or anyone with relevant dashcam or other footage, to please contact us if you have not already spoken to police." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Telegraph
Boy, 3, hit by car in school field illegally occupied by travellers
A driver has been arrested after a three-year-old boy was struck by a car in a school field that was illegally occupied by travellers. The toddler was airlifted to hospital with 'serious' injuries on Thursday afternoon after a motorist towing a caravan collided with him in Blandford Forum, Dorset. Police said a 19-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and driving offences. A group of 10 caravans arrived to occupy a field at The Blandford School on Thursday. The boy, who has not been named, is believed to have been struck by a white Seat Leon on the field as a caravan was unhitched at approximately 4.30pm. He remains in hospital after being airlifted by the Air Ambulance. 'Increased policing presence' Sgt Mike Burt said the child had been 'seriously injured'. The travellers left the secondary school on Friday morning, less than 24 hours after arriving. Sgt Burt said: 'Our thoughts are very much with the young boy who was seriously injured and their family at this time. 'We are continuing to investigate the full circumstances of this incident, and I would urge any witnesses, or anyone with relevant dashcam or other footage, to please get in touch if you have not already contacted police. 'We appreciate an incident such as this involving a young child can have a significant impact on the local community and there will be an increased policing presence in the vicinity as we continue to carry out inquiries and to provide reassurance.' Back to 'normal' A spokesman for The Blandford School said: 'We are pleased to report that with the support of Dorset Police the travellers who were on the school site have now left and as such we are able to return to a 'normal' school day.' The school added that pupils were 'a credit to themselves with the way that they handled things'. Blandford Leisure Centre, which is also next to the field, said on Thursday: 'We apologise for the disruption to our leisure centre customers since late afternoon, due to an emergency situation on the school site.'
The Independent
09-05-2025
- The Independent
Boy, 3, in serious condition after being hit by car towing caravan
A three-year-old boy has been taken to hospital in serious condition after a car crash in a field in Dorset. Police received a report at 4.34pm on Thursday relating to a collision near Blandford Leisure Centre involving a white Seat Leon car, which was towing a caravan, and a child pedestrian. Emergency services attended the scene in Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, and the three-year-old boy was taken to Southampton Hospital by air ambulance, where he remains in a serious but stable condition. Police put up a cordon to allow emergency services to respond to the incident and for enquiries at the scene to be carried out. A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of driving offences and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. Dorset Police is now appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant footage to come forward. The three-year-old's family has been informed. Sergeant Mike Burt, of the serious collision investigation team, said: 'Our thoughts are very much with the young boy who was seriously injured and their family at this time. 'We are continuing to investigate the full circumstances of this incident, and I would urge any witnesses, or anyone with relevant dashcam or other footage, to please get in touch if you have not already contacted police. 'We appreciate an incident such as this involving a young child can have a significant impact on the local community and there will be an increased policing presence in the vicinity as we continue to carry out enquiries and to provide reassurance. Officers can be approached by anyone with any information and concerns. 'We would like to thank members of the public for their patience and understanding while we responded to this incident and as we continue to carry out enquiries.' It is understood that the field where the incident took place could be accessed by the general public. Blandford Leisure Centre put out a statement on Thursday evening which said: 'We apologise for the disruption to our leisure centre customers since late afternoon, due to an emergency situation on the school site. 'There will only be pedestrian access to the leisure centre for the remainder of the evening. Leisure Centre customers will have normal vehicle access from opening time tomorrow morning at 6.30am. School access will be managed through the entrance further down Milldown Road.' The leisure centre is next to Blandford School, which also put out a statement saying the entrance near the leisure centre would be closed on Friday as police would remain in attendance.
