Weekly round-up: Five stories you may have missed

The grave slabs will undergo conservation before going on display

Bournemouth University A diver at the sea bed posing with a grey triangular stone bearing a circular gothic cross motif — The grave slabs will undergo conservation before going on display

The story of grave slabs from England's oldest shipwreck 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 of them to keep you up to date.

My dog saved me from knifeman, victim says

Billy the Staffordshire bull terrier scared off the man

A close-up of Billy, a black Staffordshire bull terrier with its tongue out — Billy the Staffordshire bull terrier scared off the man

A woman who was threatened by a man wearing a balaclava and wielding a knife says her dog Billy saved her life.

Stacey Jenvey was walking her Staffordshire bull terrier in Redhill Common, Bournemouth, on 28 May when the man jumped out of a bush and demanded she hand over her pet.

When she refused, he threatened her with a knife.

She said within seconds Billy "went mental". Dorset Police has asked anyone with information to come forward.

Village claims record for largest Dorset apple cake

The giant cake was assembled in the village hall before being cut up and sold

Ali Wellman A table full of Dorset apple cake made up of scores of individual squares — The giant cake was assembled in the village hall before being cut up and sold

Residents in a Dorset village have made what they believe to be the world's largest Dorset apple cake.

Scores of bakers from Milborne Saint Andrew took part in the mass-bake to create a 40sq ft (3.7sqm) version of the county's traditional dessert.

Made up of 79 individual bakes, the cake was cut up and served at the village community cafe for Dorset Day on Saturday.

Organisers said they did not seek an official Guinness World Record, saying the fee for accreditation was too expensive.

Paddleboarders and dogs saved after being blown offshore

A lifeboat from Weymouth was sent to rescue the pair of paddleboarders and their pets

Weymouth Lifeboat Weymouth Lifeboat - library image - not the rescue taking place — A lifeboat from Weymouth was sent to rescue the pair of paddleboarders and their pets

Two paddleboarders with dogs onboard who were blown out to sea in strong winds off the Dorset coast were rescued by a lifeboat crew.

The women were blown almost a mile (1.6km) off Lulworth Cove at about 16:00 BST on Saturday 1 June.

Weymouth lifeboat crew said the pair and their pets were "definitely unable to make it ashore unaided" due to the winds and an offshore tide.

Great-granddaughter reunited with WW2 photo

The cap badge is thought to be that of the Royal Corps of Signals

Claire Stonier A heart-shaped silver pendant on a pin with a circular frame containing an old black and white photograph of a man smiling and wearing a garrison cap with a military badge on the side — The cap badge is thought to be that of the Royal Corps of Signals

A pendant containing a photograph of a World War Two soldier, that was found on a pavement in Poole, was reunited with its owner.

Claire Stonier spotted the heart-shaped pendant on the ground in Victoria Road, Parkstone, and appealed for help to find its owner.

Nicole Parker contacted Ms Stonier to say the photo was of her great-grandfather, William Henry Atfield.

The pendant, which had been attached to her car keys, was given to her following the death of her great-grandmother.

Grave slabs recovered from England's oldest shipwreck

The vessel was loaded with slabs and mortars

Bournemouth University A diver at the sea bed posing with a gravestone stone — The vessel was loaded with slabs and mortars

A number of grave slabs from England's oldest known shipwreck have been recovered by maritime archaeologists.

The remains of the 13th Century Mortar Wreck were discovered in Poole Bay, off Dorset, in 2020.

Cauldrons, cups, pottery and kitchen objects have already been brought to the surface.

A team from Bournemouth University has returned to the site to raise the carved slabs, along with stone mortars - made for grinding flour.

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