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Dorset weekly round-up: 17 February - 23 February 2024

Dorset Knob Throwing Dorset Knob ThrowingDorset Knob Throwing
The contest sees people hurl Dorset's traditional knob biscuits down a field

A story about the return of knob throwing 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.

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Museum appeals for help excavating sea monster

BBC Studios Sir David and Steve EtchesBBC Studios
Steve Etches shows Sir David Attenborough the snout - the first piece to be found

Palaeontologists say they are in a "race against time" to recover a huge prehistoric sea monster from eroding cliffs on the Jurassic Coast.

The 2m-long (6ft) skull of a pliosaur, excavated from high above a beach in Dorset, is on display at the Etches Collection in Kimmeridge.

Now the museum is crowdfunding to recover the rest of the creature that remains embedded in the cliff face.

Museum founder Dr Steve Etches said excavating the body was a "priority".

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Knob-throwing festival to return with new venue

Rupert Cake/Chris Ould A lady throwing a knob in 2015Rupert Cake/Chris Ould
The savoury biscuits must be thrown underarm and the competitor must keep one foot on the ground

Knob throwing is set for a comeback in Dorset after the popular festival was scrapped because it had become too big.

Organisers of the Dorset Knob Festival and Knob Throwing Games have said the event, which has grown every year since it began in 2008, will return in 2024.

The games, where people compete to hurl the county's traditional biscuits the furthest, was last held in 2019.

Organisers said they have agreed a partnership with a new host and will be making a full announcement in March.

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Ducks found waddling round hospital

University Hospitals Dorset Royal Bournemouth Hospital ducksUniversity Hospitals Dorset
The ducks even stuck to the hospital's single file rule along the corridor

Hospital staff found a pair of rather unexpected, feathered intruders waddling around the corridors.

The quacking pair were discovered exploring Royal Bournemouth Hospital where they made a visit to the hospital's thoracic team.

The hospital said the inquisitive ducks tried to "wing" reading directions to find their way out of the building but needed a little help.

They were ushered out and led safely back to a lake in the grounds.

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'Dramatic' landslide at popular Dorset beach

Richard Mower Cliff fallRichard Mower
No people were injured in the fall

A large section of cliff has collapsed on to a popular beach on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.

The landslip at Lulworth Cove happened at about 13:30 GMT on 18 February and was preceded by smaller rock falls.

No-one was injured but onlookers described cracks gradually appearing in the cliff before the "dramatic" landslide.

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Harbour wall collapses ahead of repair work

Dorset Council Weymouth Harbour WallDorset Council
Engineers are on site to shore up the affected area

Part of a harbour wall on the Dorset coast that was due for repair has collapsed.

Images show rubble and pavement slabs have slipped into Weymouth Harbour.

Dorset Council said a "short section" had collapsed. It said the wall had been identified as a risk and was due for repair work as part of a project announced last year.

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