Dorset weekly round-up: 4 December - 9 December 2023

A story about a man being convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend was among our most read 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.

A vet has been found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend after she ended their relationship.

Alberto Fioletti stabbed mother-of-two Stephanie Hodgkinson, 34, at her flat in Rosemount Road, Bournemouth, on 12 May.

He is due to be sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court in January.

A British Army doctor has won the title of best international mullet at the World Mullet Championships.

Dr Alastair Bush, from Bovington Camp, Dorset, said he was "super proud" to have won the trophy at the contest in New South Wales, Australia.

In February, the GP flew down under to take part in a competition heat held in a pub in Kurri Kurri.

A star of pop band The Vamps has said featuring on a Christmas single for a children's hospice was a "privilege" and an ambition fulfilled.

James Brittain-McVey, the chart-topping act's lead guitarist, appears as a guest vocalist on a version of Silent Night recorded in aid of Dorset and Wiltshire-based Julia's House.

A patron of the charity, he said the hospice's work was "so special".

A horse has been rescued after it became stranded in a partly empty swimming pool.

The animal fell into the pool in Sherborne Hill, Sherborne, Dorset on Friday shortly after 21:20 GMT.

Firefighters, a rescue team and a vet freed the horse from the pool, which had about 10ins (25cm) of water in it, after about two hours.

A huge clean-up at a football ground was needed after days of heavy rain left the pitch underwater and its clubhouse flooded.

Bridport Football Club's St Marys Field was submerged under 2ft (0.6m) of water on Thursday evening.

After work to clear the ground through the night, the club said it had managed to save the clubhouse from the deluge.

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